Small miners need safety equipment: CCM official

Butiama. The government has been urged to distribute rescue equipment to all small-scale mines for use during emergencies.

The advice came few days after the Buhemba Goldmine in Butiama District collapsed, trapping miners. Until yesterday only two bodies were recovered.

Butiama CCM secretary Mercy Mollel said rescuers were facing a hard time due to the lack of modern tools and had to depend on the Acacia North Mara goldmine equipment.

She insisted that the Buhemba tragedy was a lessson and the government should supply rescue equipment to small-scale mines.

She said since small-scale mines were many, the government should look into the possibility of improving their working environment.

She said the mines had created employment, enabled workers to get salaries and the government collected revenue.

“Had the modern rescue equipment been available may be we would rescued the miners or recovered their bodies This should serve as a lesson to the government on the need to have such equipment in all mines.”

According to a representative of small-scale miners, Mr Mwerevu Masanja, the rescue team has succeed to drain water from the mine.

“The environment is bad. The mine is full of water. It appreas water system infrastructure broke down when the mine caved in,” he said.

However, he hopes that it is possible to find the trapped miners.