The Zimbabwe Republic Police have confirmed the death of six artisanal miners operating illegally at Starlake Mine in Mazoe.
Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, says, the incident occurred at around 10am when the hoist carrying the bucket failed to hold the weight of the miners and broke leading to the death of four at the scene.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal mine incident which occurred at Starlake Mine, Mazowe on 18th July 2025 at around 1000 hours where six artsinal miners died while four others were injured. The incident occurred when the hoist being used to PuI the bucket carrying the victims out of the 45 metre deep mine broke,” said Nyathi.
“Four victims died on the spot while two others died upon admission at Concession District Hospital,” he added.
Police released the names of the deceased
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police releases the names of the victims of the victims who were identified by their next of kin as listed:-
- Sebastian Dzaingwa (33), a male adult of Zuze Village, Wezhere, Sanyati
- Tawanda Nyandoro (41), a male adult of Basaroukwe Village, Gokwe
- Edger Magenya (30), a male adult of Pinyengwe Village, Kwekwe
- Milton Trust Ngonzwe (25) a male adult of Bika Vilage, Nyanga
- Elvis Kasaira (38), a male adult of Village 97, Mutoko,
- Abel Majangara (25), a male adult of Nyashanu Village, Nyashanu,Buhera
The mine, formerly owned by Metallon Gold but now under Namib Minerals, has been dormant since 2018.
A section of the mine with old, disused shafts has been overrun by illegal miners leading to rampant criminality including murders.
An incident report seen by The NewsHawks, shows that the miners went into the shaft against the advise of a Chief Government Mining Engineer to stop operations.
“The miners were operating illegally, defying orders from the Chief Government Mining Engineer to cease activities. With this continued defiance by illegal miners, more fatalities are expected,” read the memo.
Mazowe Mine obtained a court order in February last year ordering a cessation of illegal mining activities.
The government also directed the illegal miners to move out in April after three were killed in another hoist failure.
The mine fears police inaction will lead to more deaths. In the last week alone, three murders were reported at the mine.
Namib Minerals says it will be investing $300 million to revive operations at Mazowe Mine which incorporates Redwing and Jumbo mines after signing an agreement with Metallon Gold.
The four injured miners “sustained severe injuries, including broken bones, deep cuts, and bruises,” according to the report.
Days before tragedy struck at Starlake, two men lost their lives at Kwayedza Investments Mine, Mazowe, after an explosive burst, tearing through the cold darkness as they huddled by a fire for warmth.
One died instantly. The other clung to life, only to pass away later at Concession Hospital.
Police investigations into what triggered the deadly blast continue, but answers remain scarce.
Three more miners didn’t make it out alive at Jumbo Mine. The shaft they worked in caved in—trapping, and later killing them.
Hours later, only bodies emerged and names withheld.
The tragic trilogy—Starlake, Kwayedza, Jumbo—lays bare a harsh truth: Zimbabwe is normalising preventable deaths, all for flecks of gold. The same themes run, week after week:
- Shaft collapses.
- Explosions from faulty hoists or unregulated chemicals.
- Casual disregard for basic safety protocols.
How many hashtags, obituaries, and hollow reassurances do we need before authorities act? At this point, the only thing we’re mining with consistency in Mazowe is the grief and despair of working people who just want to survive
