TWO mine workers have been arrested for allegedly robbing a
Gwanda businessman of R27 400, $900, 35 grammes of gold and mercury after
ambushing a taxi he had hired to take him home.
Lawrence Sibanda (30) from Nkayi and Pritchard Maphosa (27)
from Silobela who both work at Danslok Blanket Mine attacked Mr Emmanuel
Zvawanda while he was on his way to Gwanda from Longvalle Farm on the outskirts of the mining town. The
pair is expected to appear in court on November 11 for robbery. They will
proceed by way of summons pending further investigations.
According to State papers, Sibanda and Maphosa, who were
armed with axes, ambushed a taxi which Mr Zvawanda and his wife Ms Thembelihle
Ndlovu had hired to take them to Gwanda Town in the middle of the night.
Mr Zvawanda buys gold from artisanal miners in Longvalle
Farm.
“On 27 September in the afternoon, Sibanda and Maphosa went
to Mr Zvawanda’s tent at Longvalle Farm along Lumene River in Gwanda to collect
a cellphone.
“They later went back at around 7PM under the pretext of
inquiring about the price of gold from Mr Zvawanda and they later left.
“On the same day at around 9PM, Mr Zvawanda, who was in the
company of his wife, Thembelihle Ndlovu, hired a taxi from Longvalle Farm to
Gwanda Town.
“Sibanda and Maphosa connived to rob Mr Zvawanda and they
ambushed the taxi after it had travelled for a distance of about one kilometre
from the farm,” read the State papers.
Sibanda and Maphosa, who were allegedly both armed with
axes, approached the car and smashed the windows of the vehicle demanding cash
from the complainant.
Mr Zvawanda tried to resist but the pair severely assaulted
him with stones and the axes they were holding.
“Mr Zvawanda’s wife managed to flee from the scene and when
he also tried to escape he fell to the ground due to injuries he had sustained
during the attack.
“Mr Zvawanda then surrendered a sling bag which he was
carrying containing R27 400, RTGS$900, 35 grammes of gold, a digital scale, a
cellphone, three teaspoons of mercury and a driver’s licence to Sibanda and
Maphosa. The pair took the bag and disappeared into the bush.
“Mr Zvawanda was rushed to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where
he was further referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals.
“He lost his left eye as a result of the attack. The matter
was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the pair on October 24,”
read the State papers. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment