Three illegal miners have died after being trapped in a pit whilst digging suspected gold soil in Mwinilunga’s Kansenseli gold mine site.
According to North western province deputy commissioner of police Dr. Fred Mulenga, the incident happened on Thursday around 10 hours and identified the deceased as Grimond Maseka aged 25, Given Ngomi and Edwin Kaheha aged 21 and 13 respectively and all of Mudanyama area.
“Mwinilunga police received a report of sudden and unnatural death as a result of a Mine accident in which Maseka Given aged 45 of old of Mudanyama area also of Mwinilunga District reported that his son Grimond Maseka aged 25 of the same abode, his brother in law Ngomi Given aged 21 of the same abode and his nephew Edwin kaheha aged 13 of the same abode died after the soil in a pit trapped them whilst digging suspected gold soil,” explained Dr. Mulenga.
He disclosed that the deceased persons together with more than 200 fellow illegal miners forced them selves inside Kansenseli Gold Mine at a pit called Kampoko and started digging suspected gold soil when the soil trapped them in a tunnel which they dug.
He said Police visited the scene and found the bodies of the deceased persons were found already retrieved.
“And after thorough inspections, discoveries on the deceased bodies were that Grimond Maseka had a cut behind the head and multiple bruises on the body while Given Ngomi had a cut on the back of the head, a cut on the shoulder, and multiple bruises on the body and Edwin kaheha had a deep cut on the right buttock, a cut on the back of the head and multiple bruises on the body,” he said.
The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited in Mwinilunga District Hospital Mortuary pending burial as no foul play has been suspected.
Dr. Mulenga has since warned illegal miners to desist from the act because it’s criminal and dangerous adding that the law will catch up with them.
