Two Illegal Miners die in Choma District

Two illegal miners have died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during an illegal mining activity in Lubwe Village in Choma district of Southern Province. Southern Province Commanding officer Moono Namalongo said the Zambia Police Service in Choma received a report of a mine accident at Maamba Police Station on May 31, 2026, at 22:30 hours.Mr Namalongo said the accident occurred on the same day at 16:00 hours at Lubwe Village in Chief Cooma’s Chiefdom.Mr Namalongo said the report was made by Christabel Siamuwele, 28, of Siankodobbo Village who reported that the accident involved her father.Mr Namalongo identified the deceased person as Jasper Siamuwele, 47, of Chuunga Village and Arnold Munkombwe,48, of Nkungwe B Compound, Maamba, who both died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities.“The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris. Other people later gathered at the scene and managed to retrieve the bodies,” Mr Namalongo said.He said police visited the scene and confirmed the incident.He indicated that the victims sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collapse and no foul play is suspected.Mr Namalongo said the bodies were later taken to Maamba General Hospital Mortuary, where they are awaiting postmortem examination and burial.

Southern Province Commanding officer Moono Namalongo said the Zambia Police Service in Choma received a report of a mine accident at Maamba Police Station on May 31, 2026, at 22:30 hours. Mr Namalongo said the accident occurred on the same day at 16:00 hours at Lubwe Village in Chief Cooma’s Chiefdom.Mr Namalongo said the report was made by Christabel Siamuwele, 28, of Siankodobbo Village who reported that the accident involved her father.Mr Namalongo identified the deceased person as Jasper Siamuwele, 47, of Chuunga Village and Arnold Munkombwe,48, of Nkungwe B Compound, Maamba, who both died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities.“The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris. Mr Namalongo said the accident occurred on the same day at 16:00 hours at Lubwe Village in Chief Cooma’s Chiefdom.

Mr Namalongo said the report was made by Christabel Siamuwele, 28, of Siankodobbo Village who reported that the accident involved her father.Mr Namalongo identified the deceased person as Jasper Siamuwele, 47, of Chuunga Village and Arnold Munkombwe,48, of Nkungwe B Compound, Maamba, who both died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities.“The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris. Mr Namalongo said the report was made by Christabel Siamuwele, 28, of Siankodobbo Village who reported that the accident involved her father. Mr Namalongo identified the deceased person as Jasper Siamuwele, 47, of Chuunga Village and Arnold Munkombwe,48, of Nkungwe B Compound, Maamba, who both died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities.“The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris.

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Mr Namalongo identified the deceased person as Jasper Siamuwele, 47, of Chuunga Village and Arnold Munkombwe,48, of Nkungwe B Compound, Maamba, who both died after being trapped when a mining pit collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities. “The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris. “The two deceased persons together with other persons not yet identified, were allegedly engaged in illegal aquamarine mining activities in an open pit mine located on the edge of a steep hill in Lubwe Village.

While inside the pit, the mine wall collapsed, trapping the two men beneath the debris. Other people later gathered at the scene and managed to retrieve the bodies,” Mr Namalongo said. He said police visited the scene and confirmed the incident.He indicated that the victims sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collapse and no foul play is suspected.Mr Namalongo said the bodies were later taken to Maamba General Hospital Mortuary, where they are awaiting postmortem examination and burial. He said police visited the scene and confirmed the incident.

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