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Liberty Dube and Melody Vherenaisi
TWO illegal gold panners were last week on Saturday drowned after a 15-metre deep shaft they were mining was filled with water at Betterbrands Mining Company in Penhalonga.
Despite incessant efforts by a rescue team from Redwing Mine to save the lives of Gift Little (25) and Moses Banda (55), the two died in the mishap.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Norbert Muzondo confirmed the tragic incident.
“The two were extracting gold from a mineshaft that was 15m deep. They were in the company of a colleague, Takunda Madoda. Madoda realised that the two had taken a long time inside the shaft.
“He alerted the Redwing Mine rescue team which entered into the shaft and observed that the mine was almost full of water. They later saw Little and Banda’s bodies floating in the water. They retrieved the bodies and reported the incident at Penhalonga Police Station. The two bodies were taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for post-mortem,” said Inspector Muzondo.
No foul play is suspected.
Meanwhile, six men allegedly stole 500kg of gold ore at Betterbrands Mining Company.
Joseph Madheu (23), Praymore Mahwengwa (19), Nyasha Mutangabende (22), Discourage Mugumisi (30), Timothy Muchabaya (27) and Marlon Mufurati (30) pleaded not guilty to contravening Section 379 of the Mines and Mineral Act, Chapter 21:05 as read with Section 113 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 (theft of gold ore) when they appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboea recently.
They were remanded out of custody to January 26 on $30 000 bail.
Mr Thurston Mubvumbi prosecuted.
It is alleged that on December 31, at Betterbrands Mining Company, Madheu, Mahwengwa, Mutangabende, Mugumisi, Muchabaya and Mufurati connived to steal gold ore.
“On December 31, 2022, Madheu and five others connived to steal gold ore and proceeded to Betterbrands Mine in Penhalonga. While at the mine, the accused persons gained entry into one of the mining shafts and extracted the gold ore.
“They loaded the ore into a Mazda Drifter vehicle. On the same day, the security guards who were on routine patrol observed the accused persons loading gold ore from the mineshaft into their vehicle. The security guards approached and arrested them. They escorted them to Penhalonga Police Station. The gold ore was recovered,” said Mr Mubvumbi.
Online Reporter