Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,[email protected]
TWO illegal gold panners from Filabusi in Insiza District have been arrested for allegedly killing a rival during a violent dispute over stolen gold ore.
Melusi Dube (28) and Ntuthuko Moyo (31) appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mr Gillian Padzakashamba, facing a murder charge. They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to August 26, with the magistrate advising them to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba told the court that the incident occurred in the early hours of June 10 at Top Mine in Filabusi, where the accused persons and the now deceased, Bruce Sibanda, were illegally panning for gold.
“An altercation broke out when the accused persons accused Sibanda of stealing some of their gold ore and hiding it. The two ganged up against him and started punching and kicking him,” said Mr Shumba.
Sibanda fled from the shack, calling for help, but Dube and Moyo allegedly pursued him into the bushes, hurling stones as they chased him. They eventually caught up with him and struck him with bricks, leaving him lifeless on the ground.
Other gold panners, alerted by Sibanda’s screams, rushed to the scene but only found his body as the accused had fled. The matter was reported to the police, who attended the scene and ferried Sibanda’s body to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary.
After weeks on the run, police investigations led to the arrest of Dube and Moyo on July 25.
derick.khumalo