Fight over gold erupts in Odzi

Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter —
AT LEAST 10 villagers from the gold rich Odzi area just outside Mutare were on Saturday night brutally attacked by unidentified assailants with machetes and knobkerries as fights to control mines escalate.

Police are yet to arrest suspects amid indi­cations that some of the suspects were clad in camouflaged clothes masquerading as soldiers.

Those privy to the attacks revealed that illegal gold panners and some mine own­ers were fighting running battles to control mines in the area.

The ensuing impasse has resulted in mine owners unleashing their workers to attack the illegal gold panners off the mines, ignit­ing explosive retaliation that has caught nearby villagers in the cross-fire.

Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspec­tor Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the Saturday attacks, saying two assault reports were recorded at Odzi Police Station.

“Zefa Mutauto and Never Mutago from Tondale Village and Cando Mine respec­tively filed assault charges at Odzi Police Station last Saturday night. They reported that they were assaulted by nine unknown assailants, with four of them wearing cam­ouflages. We are still investigating the case and we will give you an update soon,” he said.

Mutauto was heavily assaulted and sus­tained serious injuries on both legs. He was admitted at Mutare Provincial Hospital.

His wife, Tendai Mushonga who was also assaulted during the nocturnal attack sus­tained deep cuts on her head. On Wednes­day she gave an account of what transpired.

“We were at our shop at Vhoiri Business Centre at around 8pm when the attackers emerged from the darkness. They were looking for Guide Mavheneke who is a well known gold dealer. We told them that he does not stay around, but they did not believe us. All of a sudden they assaulted everyone at the shop.

“Some people ran away to safety, while others were caught in the cross-fire. My husband was heavily assaulted and sus­tained fractured legs. I was also hit on the head,” she said.

After the attack the assailants van­ished into the darkness. Moments later some of the victims went to Odzi Police Station and made reports.

“We are now living in fear and we are appealing to the police to protect us from these criminals. These people might come back anytime. The police are dragging their feet to solve these clashes and innocent people have fallen prey as a result. We reported our cases at Odzi Police Station but no meaningful devel­opments have taken place,” she said.