Authorities Shut Kitaita Mine in Morogoro for Seven Days After Deadly Collapse
The Tanzanian government has temporarily closed the Benjamin And Partners Goldmine following a deadly shaft collapse. Conflicting reports on the death toll have prompted an investigation into safety regulations and the management of disused mine shafts.
Why it matters
This event highlights the ongoing safety risks in artisanal and small-scale mining and the urgent need for stricter regulatory enforcement in the sector.
Morogoro — The government has closed Benjamin And Partners Goldmine in Kitaita village, Gairo District, for seven days after a collapse at shaft No. 305, giving authorities time to investigate and establish the scale of harm.
The order follows the deaths reported at the site on September 7. Yet the public accounts differ on the death toll: Mine Manager Iddi Chacha said four people had died, while Gairo District Commissioner Japhar Kubecha reported five deaths and four injuries.
Chacha said nine people, locally called Manyani or Wadudu , had entered shaft 305 without authorisation. He said the shaft had been closed after mining ended, and that some people remained unaccounted for and might still be underground.
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