By Arnold Tutu
Two miners have died following a fatal underground accident at Mopani Copper Mines’ SOB Shaft in Wusakile Township, Kitwe.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner MWALA YUYI says the incident occurred on Tuesday, January 13, 2025, at around 17:45 hours at SOB Shaft, level 3760.
Mr. YUYI says the incident was reported to Wusakile Police Station by Mopani Copper Mines Chief Security Manager, MUKUNDA MIKTAZA, on behalf of the company.
He says the deceased were employees of Reliant Mines, a contractor operating at the Mopani mine.
In a statement to ZNBC News, Mr. YUYI said preliminary investigations indicate that three Reliant employees were working underground at around 06:00 hours when the person in charge went to test a blasting cable.
During the process, a loud explosion was heard and reported.
He said later in the evening, workers on the night shift discovered a hard hat, a gumboot and bloodstains on the walls and ground at the work site, prompting an emergency response.
Mr. YUYI said the victims have been identified as JOSIAH SILOMBA, aged 42, a blaster and person in charge, and JUSTIN MUTABA, aged 50, a utility vehicle operator, both residents of Wusakile Township in Kitwe.
He said police officers, accompanied by scenes of crime personnel, rushed to the mine, where rescue operations were already underway.
Mr YUYI said the bodies were recovered in the early hours of today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at approximately 03:45 hours.
He added that one body was found dismembered while the other was cut into two parts.
The Copperbelt Police Chief said the remains have been deposited at Kitwe Teaching Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem examinations with inquiry file opened.
