HOPES were fading on Tuesday for a successful rescue of six miners trapped in a collapsed mine tunnel in Gwanda since Friday last week.
The rescue effort has been hampered by lack of equipment and experienced personnel.
The rescuers, many using shovels and other hand tools, have been working around the clock to get to the men.
Officials at the Antenior gold mine believe the six miners are 50m below ground and by noon Tuesday, they had dug up at least 25m.
The rescue operation was expected to gather pace later Tuesday with specialist equipment and personnel expected to arrive from Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane.
Matabeleland South Police Spokesman Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe said: “The Civil Protection Unit has been helping but the shortcoming they are having is getting experienced personnel on the ground because of lack of resources.”
Dzirutwe expressed fears the rescue effort could claim more victims.
“The mine is very unstable,” he said.
A source at the site of the accident, speaking by telephone, told New Zimbabwe.com late Tuesday that rescuers had heard a “faint lone voice” – heightening fears the miners are either cut off from each other or others may be dead.
Antenior Mine was previously registered to one Douglas Starling, but is currently being operated by a man identified only as Siduli.
Siduli, according to sources, hires workers with poor training who are sent into the underground tunnels using mainly unconventional mining methods.
The mine also has a problem with gold panners who have given the mine’s shafts names to symbolise a HOME setting, according to sources. The area where the miners are trapped is known as the KITCHEN.