A THIRTY-ONE-YEAR old miner of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) in Mufulira has died after an explosive exploded on him, blowing off his head in an underground mine accident.
Acting Copperbelt Police chief Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday.
Ms Kasosa identified the deceased as Worby Chichalwa 31, of house number 379/F Kankoyo Township in Mufulira who died on Monday following an explosive accident at MCM’s Mufulira Division.
She said the accident happened around 15:00 hours at 1, 062 metres deep underground where the deceased was blasting the ground using explosives.
“One of the explosives he was trying to ignite accidently exploded on his body blowing his head in the process,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said Mr Chichalwa, apart from his head being blown off had his right hand cut off by the explosive.
Ms Kasosa said the body of the deceased was taken to Malcom Hospital mortuary in Mufulira.
MCM’s public relations manager Cephas Sinyangwe insisted for a press query when contacted for a comment.
Condolences to the family of the deceased. MCM shall pay K1,000,000 to the family of the deceased.
In old days, an accident was reported merely an accident and death was reported as a person died.
But today, especially under these PFs, the deceased are not respected, even the Police Chief is shouting “the head was blown off”, even publishing pictures.
Some form of compensation yes…investigation into the matter must be carried out including the company’s responsibilities of equipping workers in the use of such devices…poor fellow, RIP…
So sad. MHSRIP
Was a BL holder? Something is not right here.How can he ignite the explosive whilst holding it? Explosives are not initiated/ ignited like fire works that children or other people play with during parties.Did the blast happened whilst he was charging the holes or did expose the detonator to some heat,naked flame or something that might have induced the igniting of the explosive? LT please can you follow up this sad incident and give us a proper a story.Modern explosive are very much safe to use than the old type that was very dangerous to use and had high incident rate. Mopani Copper Mine please jack up your safety standards.My heartfelt condolences his family.
Zambia Police are so naive, how can they believe such a story as narrated by his workmates?. They need to do their own investigations by getting the expertise of blasting experts. ZP you are so lazy.
This is so sad. MHSRIP
I wonder what sort of explosives they use at MCM which just go off like bottles of nitroglycerin.
Sad news indeed may his soul RIP.
Poor mine safety or foul play.Bad journalism.Was the next of keen informed before disclosing his name?MHSRIP.
So sad. I feel for the family…
LUSAKA TIMES,the way your articles are formulated leaves a lot to be desired,the construction and and the sense in the articles need to be looked at.I am sure i am not the only one to observe this especially in this particular article.A better grasp of the lingo is expected from you.
WORKERS ARE INJURED AND DIE AT MOPANI MUF THIS IS DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT THE ECZ LAZ MINES MINISTER SHUD COME IN SORT OUT PROBLEMS COZ PLENT OF INDIANS ARE BOSSES THEY EVEN DONT KNOW OUR WORK CULTURE ONLY BELIEVE IN JUJU WE ARE CHRISTIANS MR SATA KINDLY ENGANGE BA DEC
ba LT please be writing frm a well informed position. upon readng the story i kud not picture what really happened because as a son of a former miner who was born,bred and schooled in mine area,i kno au explosives are handled.they aint gvn t any human whose mental organisation has not been subjected to stressful tests.something fishy in this accident!