The bodies of eight gold miners have been found following an explosion in a mine shaft in central Zimbabwe.

The Ministry of Information says probes are in progress.

The miners are believed to have been working illegitimately in the South African-owned Jumbo mine.

In February, 24 illegitimate miners were murdered when a dam burst, flooding a mine shaft just south of the capital.

The Information ministry says initial signals are that some miners exploded dynamite in one shaft, causing a collapse in an adjacent one.

Illegitimate mining has mounted in Zimbabwe; as commercial miners deteriorate operations due to an economic crisis.

The mining methods are rudimentary and safety standards largely disregarded.