Shocking Video: Car Pulled From Shurugwi Pit After Tragic Accident Kills 4
Heartbreaking video footage which captured the moment a Honda Fit was retrieved from a waterlogged chrome pit in Gakaka, Shurugwi South has emerged. The tragic accident, which occurred on Sunday evening, claimed the lives of four people, including a heavily pregnant woman and three of her relatives. A lone survivor miraculously escaped the sinking vehicle.
Tragic Scene Unfolds
Witnesses say the Honda Fit was travelling towards Zvishavane when the driver lost control near the disused mining pit.
The car veered off the road and plunged into the 30-metre-deep water-filled hole, disappearing beneath the surface within seconds.
Residents and onlookers rushed to the scene but were helpless as the vehicle quickly submerged. The deep water and lack of rescue equipment made immediate assistance impossible.
Shurugwi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Romeo Shangwa confirmed the recovery efforts, detailing the challenges faced by rescue teams.
“The pit is extremely deep, making retrieval difficult. The last body was recovered on Wednesday morning after water was pumped out of the shaft overnight,” Shangwa told The Mirror.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Sub Aqua Unit played a crucial role in the recovery, retrieving four bodies earlier.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the ZRP spokesperson for Midlands Province, stated that the names of the deceased are yet to be released pending notification of next of kin.
Calls For Action Over Dangerous Pits
This tragedy has reignited growing concerns over the abandoned chrome mining pits scattered across Shurugwi. Many residents have warned that these water-filled pits are death traps, yet no significant action has been taken to address the issue.
A local resident expressed frustration:
“These pits are everywhere. We have lost children, livestock, and now entire families. How many more lives must be lost before something is done?”
The community has repeatedly urged authorities to refill the pits, which remain a hazard long after mining operations have ceased. Villagers fear that more lives could be lost if urgent action is not taken.
In January, two young children drowned in a similar pit while swimming. That same month, a confrontation erupted between a Shurugwi resident, Tinashe Chigiya, and a ZANU PF councillor over the dangers posed by abandoned mining sites.
Chigiya was later arrested after allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the argument.
Survivor’s Escape
Authorities have confirmed that one passenger miraculously escaped from the sinking vehicle.
The survivor, whose identity has not yet been revealed, managed to swim to safety in the chaotic moments before the car went under
Watch the video below
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