Illegal panner killed in dispute over gold ore

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

TWO illegal gold miners have been arrested for allegedly killing a colleague in a dispute over gold ore.
Melusi Dube (28) and Ntuthuko Moyo (31) were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mr Gillian Padzakashamba, facing a murder charge.

They were remanded in custody to September 9. The magistrate advised the accused persons to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said the duo allegedly attacked their now deceased counterpart Bruce Sibanda on June 10 at around 2AM while at a mining area in Filabusi area.

“The accused persons who were in the company of Bruce Sibanda were illegally panning for gold at Top Mine area in Filabusi while several other counterparts were also panning for gold in the nearby area,” he said.

“While they had retired to their makeshift shaft an altercation ensured between the three of them as they were using one shack.

“Dube and Moyo accused the now deceased of stealing some of their gold ore and hiding it.
Dube and Moyo teamed up against Sibanda and started assaulting him with fists and also kicked him.”

Ms Shumba said Sibanda rushed out of the shack while calling out for help. He fled to the bushes while accused persons were in pursuit and were hurling stones at him.

Mr Shumba said the accused persons caught up with the now deceased and assaulted him with bricks and left him lying lifeless on the ground.

“The other gold panners were alerted by screams from Sibanda and they followed the trio in the bushes. They found Sibanda lying lifeless on the ground while the accused persons had fled the scene.

“The gang of gold panners searched the area for Dube and Moyo but could not locate them,” he said.

Mr Shumba said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and Sibanda’s body was ferried to Filabusi District Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival.

He said investigations were conducted leading to the arrest of the accused persons on July 25. — @DubeMatutu