Three artisanal miners died after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes while working underground at the Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi, in a tragedy that has renewed concerns over safety practices in abandoned and unventilated mine workings.
The victims were identified as Francis Manokwe (36), Lloyd Muza (33) and Ishmael Msipa (37).
According to Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the three miners entered the disused “Coconut” shaft at around 10am on November 5 to blast gold-bearing reefs but failed to return to the surface.
“The search party discovered the bodies of the three victims lying lifeless in the shaft,” said Inspector Mahoko.
Fellow miners launched a search operation on the following morning after the trio failed to emerge from the underground workings.
Police suspect the miners succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning generated during blasting operations in the poorly ventilated shaft.
“It is suspected that they inhaled carbon monoxide fumes generated from the explosives they used,” said Inspector Mahoko.
The bodies were retrieved from the mine and taken to Shurugwi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Authorities have since opened investigations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The tragedy highlights the growing safety risks associated with informal mining activities in disused mine shafts, where poor ventilation and inadequate safety equipment often expose miners to hazardous gases and other underground dangers.
Police urged miners and members of the public to avoid entering abandoned or unventilated mine workings without appropriate safety procedures and protective equipment.
The latest fatalities add to a series of mining-related accidents that have claimed lives in artisanal and small-scale mining operations, underscoring the need for improved safety awareness and stricter adherence to mining regulations.
Last week, five heavy-duty excavators were set ablaze at Wanderer Mine’s Site Four in Shurugwi following violent clashes between local artisanal miners and mine security personnel.
The disturbances left one person dead and several others injured after security guards reportedly attempted to evict illegal miners from gold claims at the mine.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has since launched an investigation into the incident as authorities seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the unrest. 
