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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA-based gold panner who has been on the run for the past month has been arrested after he fatally struck his workmate with an axe in an alleged tribal conflict.
Thulani Dube (23) from Mletshe Village in Filabusi was arrested on Friday last week while he was hiding at his aunt’s homestead.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to 13 January.
Prosecuting, Mr Noel Mandebvu said Dube struck Brighton Maphosa (29) from Mberengwa with an axe on the head on 1 December at Bhuqwini Panning Site along Umzingwane River in West Nicholson.
It was the State’s case that on 1 December at around 8am, Dube and his workmate Maphosa had a misunderstanding after Dube told him to leave Bhuqwini Panning Site as he was Shona and not from the area. They had a quarrel over the matter but their workmates intervened.
The State further told the court that at around 11am Dube found Maphosa who was drunk sleeping under a tree. He struck Maphosa with an axe on the right side of his head leaving the axe stuck there before fleeing the scene. Maphosa died on the spot as a result of the attack.
After committing the offence, the court further heard, Dube alerted nearby villagers about what he had done and then fled from the area. Villagers tried to track him down but they could not locate him and the matter was reported to the police.
Mr Mandebvu said Dube fled from his home and went to hide at his aunt’s homestead in a neighbouring village where he was arrested following investigations.
@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter