Two employees of Reliant Mines have died following a fatal underground accident at the South Ore Body (SOB) Shaft Mine in Wusakile Township, Kitwe.
According to police, three Reliant Mines employees were working underground when the person in charge went to test a blasting cable. At that moment, a loud explosion was heard within the shaft.
When the night shift reported for duty, workers discovered a hard hat, a gumboot and blood stains on the walls and floor, indicating that a serious incident had occurred earlier.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the bodies of the two workers were retrieved in the early hours of today. One body was found in pieces, while the other had been cut in two.
The deceased have been identified as Josiah Silomba, aged 42, a blaster in charge, and Justin Mutaba, aged 50, a utility vehicle operator. Both were residents of Wusakile Township and employees of Reliant Mines.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi confirmed that the bodies have been deposited at Kitwe Teaching Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem examinations.
“An inquiry has been opened and investigations into the accident are ongoing,” Yuyi said.
Meanwhile, the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has expressed sorrow over the deaths of the two miners.
MUZ coordinator and public relations officer Michael Kaluba described the incident as tragic for the mining fraternity.
“As the Mine Workers Union of Zambia, we are deeply saddened by the loss of two of our colleagues in such tragic circumstances,” Kaluba said.
The union has called on mining companies, particularly contractors operating at Mopani Copper Mines, to review and strengthen safety systems and ensure compliance with established safety standards.
