Underground coal mine fire rages in Hwange

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

An underground coal mine fire has broken out at the Zimbali mine at M3 Block, close to Madumabisa, Village 2 and 5 in Hwange.

According to a resident, Rejoice Ndlovu, the blaze is believed to have started due to exposed coal on the surface and has been raging for several hours.

Firefighters from the Hwange Local Board and other emergency services are on the scene, but their efforts to contain the fire have so far been unsuccessful.

Residents nearby have been advised to take precautionary measures to ensure their safety.

Councillor Brian Chikumbo from Ingagula has raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the incident.

“We only heard about the fire through word of mouth after we saw some smokes in the morning,” he said.

“There has been no official communication from the mine operators to alert the communities or provide information about the situation.”

Chikumbo expressed fears about the potential health risks to nearby communities, particularly the spread of tuberculosis (TB) and injuries from underground coal fires.

Historically, many children have been injured by seamless coal fires in this area.

The Zimbali coal mine is operated by Chinese investors, and Chikumbo criticized the lack of transparency and accountability.

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