Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
Two illegal gold panners have been arrested for allegedly killing their counterpart over gold ore.
Melusi Dube (28) and Ntuthuko Moyo (31) appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate Mr Gillian Padzakashamba, facing a murder charge, but were not asked to plead.
They were remanded in custody to September 26.
Mr Padzakashamba advised the accused persons to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said the accused attacked their now-deceased counterpart Bruce Sibanda, on June 10 at around 2am in the Filabusi area.
“The accused persons, who were in the company of Bruce Sibanda, were illegally panning for gold at the Top Mine area in Filabusi while several other counterparts were also panning for gold nearby. While they had retired to their makeshift shaft, an altercation ensued 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,” he said.
Mr Shumba said Sibanda rushed out of the shack while calling out for help. He fled to the bushes while the accused persons pursued him, hurling stones.
The prosecutor added that the accused caught up with Sibanda and assaulted him with bricks, leaving him lifeless on the ground.
“The other gold panners were alerted by screams from Sibanda and followed the trio into 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. Sibanda’s body was taken to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary where he was declared dead upon arrival. Investigations led to the arrest of the accused on July 25.
@DubeMatutu
