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. They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody until September 9.
Mr Padzakashamba advised the accused 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 at a mining area in Filabusi.
“The accused persons, who were in the company of Bruce Sibanda, were illegally panning for gold at 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 calling for help. He fled to the bushes while the accused pursued him, hurling stones.
The accused caught up with Sibanda, assaulted him with bricks, and left him lying lifeless on the ground.
“Other gold panners were alerted by Sibanda’s screams and followed the trio into the bushes. They found Sibanda lying lifeless while the accused had fled the scene. The group searched for Dube and Moyo but could not locate them,” he said.
Mr Shumba added that 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 on arrival. Investigations led to the arrest of the accused on July 25.
@DubeMatutu
