Dynamite attack at Msipa mine

Eight men have been hospitalised after dynamite was thrown at them down a tunnel of a disputed mine owned by Douglas Msipa, son to the former Midlands Governor,  Cephas Msipa.

Msipa was arrested on Monday following the attack at Arizona 43 and 45 Mine in Kwekwe.

Mine workers who survived the dynamite attack

Douglas is said to be the chief financier of the mine project, which is registered to Peter Matola.

Jacob Chokururama also claims that he is the rightful owner of the mine, which has resulted in the two fighting for the control of the gold-rich mine.

The shock attack, which is often associated with block buster action movies where explosives blow up in actors’ faces, happened on Saturday around 7PM.

A group of armed miners allegedly working under the instruction of Douglas waylaid the eight miners working for Chokururama as they went down the mine shaft using a ladder.

Stones were thrown down the shaft before dynamite was detonated, the survivors said.

Three of the injured miners — Pedzisayi Majongwe, Wellington Sibanda and Bonomali Saidi — were still hospitalised at Kwekwe District Hospital yesterday where they were receiving medical treatment for wounds and fractures sustained during the attack.

Majongwe, who could hardly stand or walk without aid, suffered a dislocated knee while Sibanda suffered broken ribs and Saidi sustained bruises.

Majongwe said he thought he was going to die when he heard the explosion of the dynamite coming down the mine shaft.
“I thought I was going to die and I jumped from the ladder and hid in one of the horizontal shafts in the mine. At the same time stones were rolling down and I thought any rescue operation was going to be difficult because we’d be buried under the rubble. Luckily, we’re alive although we’re nursing wounds,” he said.

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Prosecutors are preparing evidence against Douglas and his seven employees who are due in court today.

Raymond Chinouya, a manager for Chokururama, said they sent their men down the shaft to pump out water since they had not been operating for some days owing to the wrangle over the control of the mine.

He said both sides are supposed to meet the Provincial Mining Commissioner tomorrow to resolve the ownership dispute.

“As they were going down, miners who claimed to have been sent by Douglas started rolling down stones at them,” said Chinouya.

“Five of my miners managed to reach the bottom of the shaft while three were still going down,” said Chinouya.

He said everyone was taken by surprise when explosives suddenly detonated from the shaft entrance.

Chinouya said the three miners jumped from the ladder and sought refuge in one of the shafts in a bid to escape the explosives.

He said rocks fell on them resulting in some of them sustaining injuries.

“My miners were trapped in the shaft for about eight hours. We then got wind of what had happened and sought police assistance at Matobo Police Base,” said Chinouya.

Chinouya said with the assistance of the police, they rescued the miners from the shaft before seeking medical assistance.

He said Douglas and his miners were arrested on Sunday and later released after questioning.

“We then cried foul and Douglas was rearrested on Monday,” he said.

Kwekwe Mayor, Councillor Matenda Madzoke, visited the hospital to see the injured miners. He said the law should take its course without fear or favour.

Clr Madzoke said he learnt with shock that fellow human beings could throw explosives at each other as if they were acting in movies.

“This is uncalled for. We’re one and the same people, despite our differences. These natural resources were given to us by the Almighty. I believe we should all benefit from them and not kill each other like this,” said Clr Madzoke.

Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko said he was yet to receive a report on the incident.- THE CHRONICLE