Mazowe, Zimbabwe – Six artisanal miners died at a mine in Mazowe when a hoist bringing them from the underground to the surface broke, Zimbabwe police said.
”The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal mine incident which occured at Starlake Mine, Mazowe on 18th July 2025 at around 1000hours where six artisanal miners died while four others were injured,” police said.
”The incident occured when the hoist used to pull the bucket carrying the victims out of the 45 metre deep mine broke. Four victims died on the spot while two others died upon admission at Concession district hospital.”
The police named the six victims who are Sebastian Dzaingwa,33, from Sanyati, Tawanda Nyandoro,41, from Gokwe, Edger Magenya,30, from Kwekwe, Milton Trust Ngonzwe,25, from Nyanga, Elvis Kasaira,38, from Mutoko and Abel Majangara,25, from Buhera.
Fatal mining accidents involving artisanal miners are common in Zimbabwe as most mines do not have safety measures.
Most artisanal miners pan for gold illegally across the country as they try to eke a living in a country where there is high unemployment.
The Zimbabwe government has said the artisanal miners are delivering more gold than the established formal miners.