1972 Hwange disaster remembered

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VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru will today officiate at the Hwange Colliery Company (HCC)’s 42nd commemorations of the Kamandama Mine disaster where over 400 miners lost their lives after an explosion at Number Two Colliery in 1972.

VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru will today officiate at the Hwange Colliery Company (HCC)’s 42nd commemorations of the Kamandama Mine disaster where over 400 miners lost their lives after an explosion at Number Two Colliery in 1972. SENIOR REPORTER

The commemorations are an annual event held at the site of the blast which was turned into a monument.

HCC spokesperson Burzil Dube yesterday confirmed the holding of the commemorations in the mining town of Hwange.

“The commemorations are on tomorrow (Friday) starting at 8am. Vice-President Mujuru will the guest of honour. This will be the 42nd anniversary of the disaster,” Dube said.

Over 400 mine workers lost their lives in the then Rhodesia, which remains the country’s worst mine disaster to date.

Over a third of those who perished were citizens of Zimbabwe’s neighbouring countries of Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana.

The initial explosion was caused by a methane gas explosion which was followed by a cold-dust explosion.

A monument was erected on the site in remembrance of the miners who perished.