Govt applauded for rescuing artisanal miners

Staff Reporter

Citizens have applauded Government for deploying highly skilled experts and advanced technology to successfully rescue 15 artisanal miners who were trapped at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Mutasa District in Manicaland Province.

Susan Mabika the mother of two of the miners who were trapped after the shaft collapsed could not hide her joy as she embraced her children after they were rescued. She praised Government for its reacting quick reaction to the accident.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our President, Emmerson Mnangagwa together with his Government for the effort and good works done to rescue my children. My children are the ones who take care of me since I am a widow and old aged,’’ said Mabika.

Residents of Redwing Mine also celebrated the successful mission of rescuing the artisanal miners and commended Government’s efforts of assisting the trapped miners through the use of advanced satellite technology and provision of resources.

The Redwing Mine workers committee chairperson, Joseph Damba reiterated that people should spread the word about President Mnangagwa’s good works of providing adequate resources for the rescue and desist from propagating false information on social media which tarnishes Government efforts.

“As artisanal miners, we should not spread false information with regards the mine collapse, let us be united and work as a team in order achieve our goals and our Presidents vision 2030,’’ Mabika said.

The Minister of Mines and Development Soda Zhemu emphasised that the Second Republic provided resources and advanced satellite technology to locate and retrieve artisanal miners who were trapped during a mine collapse last week. The Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) played a key role in deploying technology to locate the artisanal miners.

Minister Zhemu added that the Government was working tirelessly to capacitate artisanal miners through loans in order to invest in efficient machinery and protective and safety equipment during their mining activities as the country to strives  attainment Vision 2030 that aims to  be an upper middle income society/economy.