Rescue operations ongoing at Mumbwa’s Matala mine

An emergency rescue operation team has been constituted following the collapse of a mine in Nangoma Constituency in Mumbwa District, burying five suspected illegal miners. A portion of the mine curved in on May 5, 2026 and buried five people alive but their condition is not yet known. Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe, says the committee of Permanent Secretaries has engaged the Mine Safety Department and Nampundwe mine to lead the rescue team after Matala mine curved in on five suspected illegal miners.

Dr Mwanakampwe told journalists in Kabwe that the five suspected miners accessed the mine through some tunnels that were not known to paramilitary officers who were guarding the area on May 5, 2026. He explained that the owner of the mine hired paramilitary officers to guard the site against illegal mining but illegal miners still managed to gain entry. Dr Mwanakampwe further said one tunnel has already opened but no one was found.

He stated that as of today at 16:00 hours, the rescue teams were working to open a second tunnel in an effort to reach the trapped individuals. He explained that the government will use all possible means to save the five victims before investigating the cause of the collapse of the mine, following President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive. Dr Mwanakampwe also noted that there is a likelihood that some of the victims are foreign nationals.

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He added that the government will continue to monitor the situation as rescue operations are being conducted. Rescue them even if they are both illegal miners and foreign thieves in this case.Our Zambian human values should come 1st…then the law 2nd.

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