Maravi

(HERALD) More human remains, ammunition found in Chinhoyi

More human remains, ammunition found in Chinhoyi
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 23:32
Chinhoyi Bureau

MORE human remains and ammunition suspected to be from the liberation struggle have been found at Eldorado Gold Mine here. Mine workers recently stumbled upon a skull, human bones, one complete AK47 rifle, a broken AK47 rifle and one FN round, bringing to six the number of human remains discovered so far at the mine which was re-opened several years ago.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the discovery, adding that more remains were expected to surface as mine operations continue.

“We are getting human remains and ammunition from the mine and we are still carrying out investigations into the matter,” he said.

The remains were discovered about 28 metres below the surface in a mine that is believed to be about 700 metres deep.

Operations at the mine, which resumed a few years ago, had been stopped in 1914 after about 18 years of mining.

The first discovery of the human remains and weapons was made about 16 metres below the surface, while the second discovery sometime last year was made at 24 metres.
The Zimbabwe National Army had to be summoned to detonate eight TNT hand grenades and identify several rounds of ammunition.

Workers came across the human remains on December 24 when they were working underground and made a report to the police who called in the ZNA Bomb Disposal Unit.
Also discovered in the shaft were 200 FN rifle loose rounds and 400x9mm live rounds of ammunition, which could not be identified.

A butt of a suspected AK47 rifle and two rusty empty magazines, which were also suspected to be of an AK47 rifle, were recovered at the scene.

The human remains were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, while the ammunition was taken by the ZNA Bomb Disposal Unit for further investigations.

Insp Mabgweazara said there were no results so far from the hospital to determine when the people died and the cause.

The mine is believed to have been opened by some German nationals around 1896 when the First Chimurenga started before operations ceased in 1914.

Labels: COLONIALISM, IAN SMITH, INDEPENDENCE, LIBERATION, RHODESIA, WAR CRIMES

posted by MrK @ 7:41 PM