Panner shot dead

Herald Reporter
A gold panner was shot dead by a Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority ranger after he tried to disarm him of his rifle during a scuffle at the Secret Valley panning site on Tuesday.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara identified the deceased as Joe Tumbudzuku (30) of Mupasha Village in Zvishavane.

It is alleged that on the day in question, a patrol comprising members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority rangers were in the Secret Valley panning site in Cheure Safari Area under “Operation Makorokoza Mapera kuCheure”.

The team received information that there were gold panners proceeding to Hurungwe. They tracked the panners on foot for about 10km towards Secret Valley where they spotted their targets, who ran away in different directions.

A ranger caught up with Tumbudzuku and a scuffle ensued.
Tumbudzuku tried to disarm the ranger, prompting the latter to fire three warning shots into the air.

Tumbudzuku allegedly pushed the ranger to the ground. The ranger shot Tumbudzuku in the left shoulder and he died on the spot.
A metal detector, a battery and pots were recovered.

Tumbudzuku’s body was taken to Karoi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem