By Respite Kaoma
Two miners have died following an underground accident at Mopani Copper Mines’ SOB Shaft in Wusakile Township, Kitwe.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 13th January 2026, around 17:45 hours at level 3760 underground.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi confirmed the incident, saying it was reported to Wusakile Police Station by Mopani Copper Mines’ Chief Security Manager, Mukunda Miktaza, on behalf of the company.
Mr Yuyi identified the deceased as Josiah Silomba, aged 42, a blaster and person in charge, and Justin Mutaba, aged 50, a utility vehicle operator. Both were employees of Reliant Mines, a contractor at Mopani Copper Mines, and residents of Wusakile Township in Kitwe.
In a statement availed to Mafken News, Mr Yuyi said preliminary investigations indicate that three Reliant Mines employees were working underground at around 06:00 hours when Mr Silomba went to test a blasting cable. During the process, a loud explosion was heard and reported.
He explained that workers on the night shift later discovered a hard hat, a gumboot and bloodstains on the walls and ground at the work site, prompting an emergency response.
Police officers, accompanied by scenes of crime personnel, rushed to the mine where rescue operations were already underway. The bodies were recovered in the early hours of Wednesday, 14th January 2026, at about 03:45 hours.
One body was found dismembered, while the other had been severed into two parts.
The remains have since been deposited at Kitwe Teaching Hospital Mortuary, pending postmortem examinations.
Police have opened an inquiry file to establish the exact cause of the accident.
