Chronicle Editor
Michelle Gwizi, Chronicle Reporter
A POLICE officer from Bulawayo appeared in court yesterday facing a murder charge for allegedly shooting an illegal gold panner in Kensington suburb.
Nobert Maponde (40) of Ross Camp appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ndlovu who remanded him out of custody to September 13 for commencement of trial.
Prosecuting, Mr McLean Ndlovu, said: “On August 26, Maponde was on an operation code named, “No to illegal gold panners”.
He said Maponde was approached by a group of illegal gold panners who were armed with axes, shovels and machetes.
Maponde was armed with a rifle.
“Maponde gave a verbal warning accompanied with three warning shots but the group continued advancing towards him,” said Mr Ndlovu.
“Maponde shot Tinashe Mufema once on his lower backbone. Mufema was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he later died”.
The matter was reported to the police and Maponde was arrested the next day.
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