THREE artisanal miners were each sentenced to 10 years in
for attacking and seriously injuring a rival miner with an axe and a machete in
a fight over gold ore while inside a mine shaft.
John Matsveru (21), Bernard Makoni (22) and Tinashe
Ngwenya, whose age was not given, attacked James Moyo and left him for dead.
Matsveru, Makoni and Ngwenya who all live in Fambai
Village, Shurugwi appeared before Gweru Regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile
Msipa facing attempted murder charges.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were
however convicted after a full trial.
Mrs Msipa sentenced the three to 10 years in jail each. Two
years were however suspended by the magistrate for five years on condition of
good behavior.
Prosecuting, Mr Talent Tadenyika said on July 3 last year
at around 3AM, Matsveru came across Moyo in a mine shaft at Tebekwe Mine and
confronted him on why he was operating from their area.
“Matsveru who was
armed with an axe, ordered Moyo to lie down while threatening to strike him
with an axe for working at their mine shaft. Moyo resisted and was attacked
with the axe on the left elbow,” he said.
The court heard that Matsveru further struck Moyo on the
left palm with the axe before stabbing him once on the back.
“Ngwenya and Makoni joined the assault and stabbed Moyo
once on the collar bone with a knife and struck him several times on the
forehead and head with a machete. Moyo became unconscious but the trio
continued to assault him all over his body,” he said.
Mr Tadenyika said Moyo was left for dead. Other artisanal
miners assisted him to come out of the shaft using a hoist. The court heard
that Moyo was ferried to Shurugwi District Hospital for treatment.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest
of Matsveru, Makoni and Ngwenya. Chronicle
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