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

The Ministry of Information says investigations are underway.

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

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

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

Illegal mining has increased in Zimbabwe; as commercial miners scale down operations due to an economic crisis. The mining methods are rudimentary and safety standards largely disregarded.