A teenage gold panner in the company of five colleagues was
shot dead after they raided a gold mine in Guruve and attacked three security
guards.
The teenagers, aged between 15 and 19, were reportedly
armed with stones and a firearm when the incident occurred on Monday afternoon.
Investigations carried out so far revealed that the
teenagers had gone to the mine to confront the guards after one of them, aged
15, had earlier been caught illegally searching for gold ore at the premises.
The 15-year-old teenager was made to roll on some ashes at
the mine before being released. After being released, he then went and informed
his colleagues and together they ganged up to attack the security guards.
This resulted in one of the guards who was armed with a rifle
firing shots, which hit the other teenager on the shoulder and he died on the
spot. Police have since arrested the security guard and
investigations are still in progress.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“We can confirm that a security guard at a mine in Guruve
has been arrested for the killing of a 17-year-old juvenile whom he shot with a
rifle,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi added that: “The arrest comes after a
15-year-old had earlier on been caught at the mine which was being guarded by
the accused person and his workmates who made him to roll on some ashes. He
later returned to the mine with his friends to confront the accused person over
the issue.
“The youths became violent and attacked the security guards
with stones, prompting the accused person to open fire, shooting the
17-year-old on the shoulder and killing him instantly.”
He said investigations were still in progress. The shooting incident comes in the wake of recent reports
of machete gangs resurfacing countrywide, targeting individuals with large
amounts of cash.
This has prompted police to relaunch “Operation Chikorokoza
Ngachipere/Isitsheketsha Kasipele” and “No to Machete Wielding Gangs”.
A few months ago, police restored order in mining areas
after taking on the gangs, arresting large numbers and thwarting a wave of
violence.
Since January this year, 12 501 machete gang members and
other criminal elements had been arrested in mining communities countrywide.
Between August 29 and 30, 65 people were arrested in Mazowe
for criminal trespass, failure to observe national lockdown regulations and
theft of gold ore during the ongoing operation.
The ZRP also accounted for 13 suspects on Tuesday in
another ongoing operation to protect Upper Mazowe National Monument against
illegal mining, illegal settlers and any other illegal activities taking place
thereat.
According to statistics to date, 105 arrests have been
arrested in the area.
Meanwhile, an unidentified woman was found dead in a bushy
area in Chegutu with two deep cuts on her head. Two blood-stained stones were found near the body.
The body was taken to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for post
mortem. Another man’s body with a stab wound on the left side of
the chest was also discovered in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo on Monday. Herald
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