adminMidlands Bureau Chief
A GOLD miner died when he was shot in the cheek with a revolver while four others were injured when two mining syndicates clashed over the control of a mine in Shurugwi. National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi, said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 7am at Wandara Mine in Shurugwi.
He said the two groups who were fighting for the control of the mine attacked each other with machetes and stones resulting in one of the groups retreating.
“The circumstances are that on Tuesday at about 7am, a group of small-scale miners was mining gold at Wandara Mine when another group arrived and asked to also operate at the same mine. There was a misunderstanding which resulted in the two groups clashing and fighting using machetes and stones. The group of miners that had requested to join the first group was overpowered and retreated,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the mining syndicate, which was already conducting mining operations, resumed their operations but the group which had been overpowered waylaid the rival group and attacked them while they were in the mine tunnel.
“One of the suspects from the rival group, Busani Mpandle, (24) who was armed with a revolver fired two shots into the tunnel.
A member of the first group which had been mining underground, Joseph Magombedze (32) was shot on the cheek and died on the spot. Another member, Samson Ezekiel, was hit on the leg by a bullet and was also injured in the process,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said other members of the mining syndicate, which was underground, later managed to come out of the mine and attacked the rival group with stones injuring two.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the matter was later reported to the police who attended to the scene.
“Three suspects including Busani Mpandle who was armed with the revolver were arrested leading to the recovery of the firearm. Four people who were injured during the skirmishes were taken to Shurugwi District Hospital where they are still admitted,” he said.
The police spokesperson appealed to members of the public to always seek advice from relevant authorities when involved in disputes.
“For instance in this case, these mining syndicates were supposed to have approached the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to have their case addressed instead of resorting to the violence which later turned tragic,” he said.
Online Reporter