HARARE – Police in Mashonaland Central have opened investigations into the death of a possible seven people after human remains were discovered in a mine shaft at Elvingz Mine, Makalanga Farm in Mazowe recently.
Mashonaland Central deputy provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Major Samuel Chikasha confirmed the incident after a mine excavator unearthed the remains inside a heap of debris during works intended to drill holes in preparation for blasting.
Workers discovered some old torn black plastics, torn clothes, torn shoe heels, torn blankets, dislodged human bones and suspected human hair at the top of a mountain where approximately 30-metres deep open cast mining is taking place.
Chikasha said 10 pairs of trousers with green, maroon and brown colours were recovered.
“Some trousers had human bones inside suggesting that a human body was thrown in the shaft intact,” he was quoted as saying in state media.
“The bones had lost shape due to decomposition. Black and white plastic papers were also in the shaft.”
Detectives from CID Bindura and forensic experts estimated the victims to be seven through counting the number of trousers that had human remains inside but the truth shall come out after forensic examination is conducted at Parirenyatwa Hospital to establish the possible number of bodies, period of death and probable cause of death.
“The type of clothes which were extracted are old fashioned clothes. Most of them were green in colour and were male clothes. They were also pieces of old-fashioned blankets,” he said.
Chikasha said the human remains were placed in exhibit bags and referred to Mazowe police for further management.
