The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has warned that Dalny Mine 2 Primary School in Sanyati District, Mashonaland West Province, is at risk of collapsing due to tunnels being dug by artisanal miners beneath the school infrastructure.
In a statement, ARTUZ warned that unless authorities intervene urgently, the fate of Dalny Mine 2 Primary School could mirror that of Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe District, Midlands Province. ARTUZ said:
<blockquote>
Illegal artisanal mining is leaving a trail of ecological and infrastructure destruction in the said community. We are worried that when schools open in January 2025, Dalny Primary will be no more.
Dalny 2 Primary has an enrollment of over 600 learners attended to by 22 Patriotic Teachers. If Dalny Primary School collapses when schools are open these lives can potentially be lost.
The closest school to Dalny Primary is Dalny 1 Primary which already accommodates 1,500 learners.
There is no room for the 600 learners from Dalny 2. If Dalny Mine 2 Primary School is allowed to collapse 600 learners will be out of school.
</blockquote>
The union said Zimbabwe already has a shortage of over 3000 schools, we cannot afford to lose a great school like Dalny Primary.
In 2023, Dalny 2 Primary School had a Grade 7 pass rate of 26.8%, which marginally improved to 26.9% in 2024 despite challenges in the education sector.
ARTUZ has appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Environmental Management Agency, and other stakeholders to take action to save the school from potential collapse.
On March 16, 2023, a classroom block at Globe and Phoenix Primary School collapsed into an illegal mine shaft due to uncontrolled underground mining activities, injuring at least 14 pupils but fortunately resulting in no fatalities.
Since the collapse, the school has been declared too risky for lessons to continue, and students have been learning in makeshift tents at a nearby school.
The government has identified a new site for the school, but construction progress has been delayed due to the need for a geological survey to evaluate the impact of mining on the site.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Illegal miners are digging tunnels under a school in Zimbabwe, risking its collapse. The union warned that unless action is taken, the school may suffer the same fate as another school that collapsed. The school has over 600 students and losing it would mean 600 children out of school. The union asked for help from the police, education ministry, and others to save the school. Another school collapsed before, injuring students. The government is trying to move the school but is facing delays. It's important to protect schools from illegal mining to keep children safe and in school.

Dalny Mine 2 Primary School At Risk Of Collapse Due To Illegal Mining

Learners at Sally Mugabe Primary School, formerly Russel Primary School in Kwekwe District, Midlands Province, are vulnerable to cholera after the school received more than 1 000 learners from Globe and Phoenix Primary School.
As reported by <a href="https://thenewshawks.com/kwekwe-pupils-vulnerable-to-cholera/">The NewsHawks</a>, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in Kwekwe District relocated learners from Globe and Phoenix Primary School to Sally Mugabe after classrooms caved in due to illegal mining last year.
However, authorities have not expanded water and sanitation facilities at Russel Primary to accommodate learners from Globe and Phoenix.
This week, Fortune Mpungu, the Kwekwe CPU chairperson, told NewsHawks that the facilities at Sally Mugabe can cater for learners from Globe and Phoenix. He said:
<blockquote>
We have provided temporary classroom tents at the school where the pupils have been relocated to and that is Sally Mugabe Primary.
In terms of water and sanitation facilities, all the students are using the old ones. They are enough.
We are working with the Ministry of Health on preventing cholera at the school. We feel we are on top of the situation.
Besides, plans are already there for the construction of a new school and we are waiting for the rainy season to end so that the work can begin.
Plans and designs for the new school have already been drawn and very soon construction will begin. The stay of the pupils at that school is temporary.
</blockquote>
However, The NewsHawks reported sources at Sally Mugabe Primary School as saying a health time bomb is looming at the institution.
The CPU has not provided mobile toilets or water bowsers to cater for the increased number of pupils. Said the source:
<blockquote>
We are talking about 1 300 pupils who have been relocated to a school that already had overpopulated children with limited water and sanitation facilities such as ablution blocks.
The number of students is overwhelming the facilities already and general workers are failing to maintain hygiene at the toilets.
When there are water outages, there are no additional supplies that are on standby.
</blockquote>
According to the Ministry of Health and Childcare, as of 07 February 2023, Midlands Province had 569 suspected Cholera cases, 17 confirmed cases, 528 recoveries, 0 confirmed deaths and 36 suspected deaths.
Globe and Phoenix Primary School, which was constructed more than a century ago, was abandoned after a classroom block collapsed into a mine shaft on 16 March 2023.
The learners have been learning under tents at Russell Primary School grounds where they have been camped since last year.
The underground tunnels that destroyed the school were dug by illegal gold miners linked to ZANU PF.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Globe and Phoenix Primary School Learners Vulnerable To Cholera

Members of Parliament across the political divide on Thursday demanded action to stop illegal gold mining in disused mine shafts in Kwekwe which threatens buildings in the Midlands city, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/mps-demand-action-over-kwekwe-sinkholes-from-illegal-mining/">ZimLive.com</a>.
In March, a Globe and Phoenix Primary School classroom caved in, resulting in 18 pupils being injured.
In May, House Number 1 Silver Oaks, also in Globe and Phoenix low-density suburb collapsed into an underground mine shaft.
Legislators who are members of the portfolio committee on mines and mining development accused the Government of doing nothing to stop the illegal mining activities.
Kwekwe Central MP Judith Tobaiwa (CCC), said:
<blockquote>
My worry is we have been hearing all these contributions from government departments; what have they done to resolve these issues?
Now there are mining activities along the Harare Road and also along Robert Mugabe Road.
</blockquote>
Mberengwa East MP Marko Raidza (ZANU PF) said:
<blockquote>
We are not hearing solutions and interventions that they are doing to arrest the situation.
We need firm commitment and activities to stop this illegal mining before a big disaster happens.
</blockquote>
Mutasa Central legislator Trevor Saruwaka (CCC), said:
<blockquote>
It looks like there is an umbilical cord to this madness. The challenge could be because political heavyweights are involved in illegal mining activities such that these government departments are failing to rein them in.
</blockquote>
Appearing before the committee, Midlands mining engineer Tapererwa Paskwavaviri acknowledged that there is a high number of sinkholes in Kwekwe. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a prevalence of sinkholes in Kwekwe which resulted in the damage of roads and buildings.
At the moment, if you go to the district coordinator’s offices, a number of buildings have large cracks in the walls.
The Kwekwe reservoir which is next to Globe and Phoenix is in danger as we speak and our fear is that if illegal mining continues around that area, the water tank can collapse and that will result in a disaster.
There is a danger that the tunnels could be extending towards the CBD (Central Business District).
</blockquote>
Mines and Mining Development Ministry permanent secretary <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Pfungwa_Kunaka">Pfungwa Kunaka</a> said the government is seized with the matter.
<blockquote>
We know that because of mining activity, the ground beneath Kwekwe is now weak.
The March 2023 collapse drew our attention as the entire government. The Kwekwe issue is being treated as an emergency situation.
This matter is now at the Cabinet level being addressed. On the outlook, it may appear like there is no progress.
</blockquote>
It also emerged that most mining towns across the country are at risk of caving in as a result of the effects of illegal mining being done in decommissioned and disused mines.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

MPs Demand Action Over Kwekwe Mining Sinkholes Menace

The owner of a house that collapsed into an underground mine shaft in Kwekwe’s Globe and Phoenix suburb on Sunday says her family is now homeless following the incident.
Kimberly Rusike told <a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2023/06/01/kwekwe-house-collapses-into-a-mine-shaft/">ZBC News</a> that they have lived at House Number 1 Silver Oaks in Globe and Phoenix low-density suburb for the past 23 years.
She said it was their hope that the house would benefit generations to come. Said Rusike:
<blockquote>
The first problem happened sometime last year when part of the dining room collapsed.
We thought it was nothing major but as a safety precaution, we moved out after a relative offered accommodation in Newtown.
However, we left some valuables and tenants. On Sunday we were informed that a catastrophe had hit our property.
When we came to check, we realised that the whole kitchen and a toilet had sunk into a sinkhole.
It’s quite traumatising to imagine if we were still occupying the property and if the tenants were in the house at the time we could be telling a different story.
The house has since been decommissioned meaning we have been left with nothing.
</blockquote>
Cracks are visible over the block of flats at the Globe Court which houses over 200 people.
One of the residents who spoke to ZBC News said every other day they hear blasts underground as illegal gold panners break up rocks in search of the yellow metal. Said the resident:
<blockquote>
Every other day we hear blasts from underneath the surface as amakorokoza go about their business.
Windows and doors always shake as the blasts go on. We no longer know what to do anymore.
Imagine if all these flats were to collapse what would happen to us.
Living in this neighbourhood is now traumatic. The fear of waking up with no home is now a reality.
How can one survive knowing pretty well that there are mining activities underneath?
I appeal to authorities to put an end to all this madness.
As a resident, it is natural to live in fear. We have children who play outside and knowing that we are floating above some mineshafts is quite scary.
The most difficult times are when the illegal miners do their mine blasts which shake the whole yard.
</blockquote>
The house is located in the Globe and Phoenix area, the same area as the Globe and Phoenix Primary School, which also collapsed into a mining tunnel months ago.
A number of schoolchildren at Globe and Phoenix Primary were injured after a classroom block caved in while they were in class in March this year.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Larry Mavima said the Government is mulling a complete ban on mining activities in Kwekwe.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Kwekwe Family Homeless After House Collapses Into A Mine Shaft

A family from Kwekwe, Midlands Province, narrowly escaped death after part of their house collapsed into an underground mining tunnel underneath the house.
The <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/house-collapses-into-mining-tunnel/">Chronicle</a> reported that the Rusike family has been unknowingly living on top of a huge mining tunnel for years.
The family detected some noises due to mining activities underground and vacated the house.
Part of the house then collapsed into the tunnel after the family had moved out.
The Civil Protection team and other Government departments like the Ministry of Mines, and Environmental Management Agency inspected the scene.
The house is located in the Globe and Phoenix area, the same area as the Globe and Phoenix Primary School, which also collapsed into a mining tunnel months ago.
A number of schoolchildren at Globe and Phoenix Primary were injured after a classroom block caved in while they were in class in March this year.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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