Gold baron Dube in court

Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
ESIGODINI gold baron, Baron Dube allegedly instructed a gang of gold panners in July last year to attack a rival group in Filabusi with machetes and catapults, a court has heard.

Dube (41) from Habane Township, Esigodini appeared before Esigodini magistrate Mr Tawanda Muchemwa last week charged with inciting public violence. Dube was remanded out of custody to 8 March 2017 for trial.

Prosecutor, Mr Acumen Khuphe told the court that on 26 July 2016 at Habane Township, Esigodini, Dube phoned his worker, Gilbert Sibanda who resides in Filabusi and instructed him to mobilise manpower to assault illegal gold panners from Nkayi District.

It was the State case that Sibanda then mobilised five people as instructed by his employer. The court heard that Dube in the company of his driver proceeded to Filabusi to meet the men and ferried the group to his bar at Esigodini.

The prosecutor further told the court that Dube armed the group with machetes, iron bars, axes and catapults. The group from Filabusi was joined by another group from Esigodini.

It was the State’s case that a manhunt was carried out on 28 July 2016 at around 8am at Habane Business Centre.

The court heard that Dube in the company of his armed men saw a group of gold panners from Nkayi District and allegedly instructed his men to drive away the group from his territory.

The group from Nkayi District fled to Esigodini Business Centre and a report was made to the police by an unknown caller.

Police acting on a tip off attended the scene and arrested men from both side. Investigations carried out later led to the arrest of Dube.