By Patience Gondo
ZIMBABWE has recorded 64 deaths among artisanal and small-scale miners during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.
The figures were revealed during a workshop for Ministry of Mines inspectors where concerns were raised over rising fatalities in the sector and gaps in enforcement of mining safety regulations.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura, said ground collapses remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 54 percent of all fatalities (35 deaths).
He said improper use of explosives and gassing contributed 25% of deaths, while falls into abandoned and unprotected mine shafts accounted for 15 percent.
Electrocution and equipment-related accidents made up the remaining 6 percent.
Kambamura said most of the deaths were preventable and urged inspectors to strengthen enforcement of safety standards across mining sites to reduce risks faced by artisanal miners.
He also said government has already trained more than 500 artisanal miners in basic safety and environmental management as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety awareness and reduce accidents in the sector.
The minister has further instructed inspectors to take firm action against illegal mining activities, including riverbed mining and operations without proper mining titles, which continue to pose serious safety and environmental risks.
Despite the sector’s strong contribution to mineral production, the minister said this should not overshadow the loss of life being recorded in mining communities.
“The sector’s strong mineral production performance must not overshadow the loss of life,” he said, adding that every fatality should be treated as evidence of safety gaps that require urgent attention.
Artisanal and small-scale mining remains one of Zimbabwe’s most active informal economic sectors, providing livelihoods for thousands of people across the country.
However, it is also widely associated with high occupational risks, including unsafe mine shafts, limited access to protective equipment and illegal operations that often bypass safety regulations.
In recent years, government has intensified efforts to formalise the sector through training programmes, inspections and enforcement measures aimed at reducing accidents and improving environmental compliance.
Despite these interventions, mining-related fatalities remain a persistent challenge, particularly in areas where illegal mining activities are widespread.