Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
TWO illegal gold panners from Filabusi have been arrested after allegedly beating a rival to death in a fight over stolen gold ore.
Melusi Dube (28) and Ntuthuko Moyo (31) were dragged to court facing a murder charge following the grisly death of Bruce Sibanda.
The pair appeared before Gwanda magistrate Gillian Padzakashamba and were remanded in custody to August 26. They were advised to seek bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Ngonidzashe Shumba told the court the violence erupted in the early hours of 10 June at Top Mine, where the three were panning for gold.
“An altercation broke out when the accused persons accused Sibanda of stealing some of their gold ore and hiding it. The two ganged up against him and started punching and kicking him,” said Shumba.
Sibanda bolted from a shack, screaming for help, but the duo allegedly chased him into the bushes, pelting him with stones. They eventually cornered him and crushed him with bricks, leaving him dead on the spot.
Other panners who rushed after hearing his screams only found his lifeless body.
After weeks on the run, police tracked down Dube and Moyo, finally arresting them on 25 July.
derick.khumalo