Six people are feared dead after a Honda Fit veered off the road and plunged into a disused chrome pit in the Gakaka area of Shurugwi South last night. The vehicle, which was travelling from Shurugwi to Zvishavane, reportedly lost control and fell into the abandoned pit, which is filled with water.
Shurugwi District Development Coordinator, Rome Shangwa, confirmed the tragic incident to The Mirror. “Search operations are currently underway, with sub-aqua teams deployed. Six people are feared dead. The vehicle fell into a disused mining pit near the road, and we are still trying to establish what exactly happened,” said Shangwa.
The abandoned pits have long been a source of concern for local residents, who have repeatedly called on the government to close them. These water-filled pits, remnants of past mining activities, have become death traps over the years. In January, a Shurugwi female prison inmate lost her two minor children after they drowned while swimming in one of the pits.
Midlands police spokesperson, Emmanuel Mahoko, said they are yet to receive an official report on the incident. “We are still gathering information on the case and have not yet received it from the responsible police station,” said Mahoko.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers posed by disused mining pits in the area. Local residents have expressed frustration over the lack of action to address the issue, urging authorities to take immediate steps to prevent further loss of life.
As search operations continue, the Shurugwi and Zvishavane communities remain on edge, hoping for answers and closure. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and it is unclear what caused the vehicle to lose control.
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