Gold baron lives in fear

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
ESIGODINI gold baron and businessman Mr Baron Dube has said he is living in fear as a gang of illegal gold panners allegedly pounced at his bar thrice within a week.

In an interview, Mr Dube expressed concern over how the police were treating his reports. Mr Dube said the gang of four damaged property, assaulted patrons, his workers and robbed his shop but they have not been charged for their crimes.

He said his life was now under threat as the axe wielding illegal gold panners are constantly harassing him. Mr Dube said two people have so far been injured from the acts by the gangs.

“Due to these incidents I feel that my life is in danger. It is being threatened. My biggest worry is that the police are not arresting the culprits. They just picked them and released them yet they damaged property, robbed my bar and attacked my employees,” he lamented.

Mr Dube said the police told him that his case will be looked into in October when he inquired about the matter. However, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said as far as he was concerned the police were investigating Mr Dube’s case. He said the Zimbabwe Republic Police was a professional organisation and has no reason to sideline Mr Dube’s case.