An explosion at Donzic 6 Mine in Kwekwe has claimed the lives of two miners after a hidden cache of dynamite was accidentally ignited, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed.
The police identified the victims as Loveson Nkiwane, 41, and Albert Mulima, 36.
The explosion, which occurred on Friday, was triggered when one of the miners unknowingly placed a heated iron pick head on top of undetected explosives buried underground.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that one of the victims had unknowingly placed a hot iron pick head underground, directly onto a hidden cache of the explosives. Subsequently, the heat from the pick head ignited the dynamites, causing a devastating explosion which claimed the lives of the victims,” the ZRP said in a statement.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Mining accidents remain a persistent issue in the country where artisanal and small-scale mining is widespread.
Many miners operate in hazardous conditions, often with limited safety measures in place.
