PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed government leaders to fully participate in funerals for victims of the Shinyanga Nyandolwa mine accident, where 25 people were buried by a landslide, leaving 14 still trapped underground.

William Lukuvi, the Policy, Parliament and Coordination state minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) , spoke on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as he conveyed her condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.

Lukuvi said President Samia had directed him to communicate her condolences and ensure government leaders attend all funerals of the victims

“President Samia has instructed me to convey her sympathies and to direct government leaders in this area to attend all funerals of those who lost their lives and represent her condolences to the families,” Lukuvi said.

Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita confirmed that the directives would be implemented.

She noted that recovered bodies are being taken to the mortuary at Shinyanga District Hospital in Iselamagazi.

She added that the handover of the bodies to relatives has been well organized, and some families have already held funerals for their loved ones.

“The rescue operation is progressing well. We are also using modern machines to locate and remove those still trapped underground,” Mhita said.

The mining accident involving  at Nyandolwa minings occurred on August 11, when a landslide buried 25 people. 

As of today, 14 remain trapped, 11 have been recovered—three alive and eight deceased.