Villagers Forced Into Unused Mine By Machete And Knives Wielding Thugs
Two Zishavane men were remanded in custody to April 23 and 24, respectively in connection with a murder case.
It is alleged that the accused and their accomplices, who are still at large, armed themselves with machetes and knives and forced Zvishavane villagers into a disused Gudo mine to extract gold for them.
One villager is reported to have escaped and mobilised other villagers who confronted the gang in a bloody fight which led to the death of one villager.
Zvishavane provincial magistrate Shepherd Mjanja charged the two of the suspects Walter Mapfumo (28) and Ignatious Bungu (23) with murder.
Prosecuting, Taurai Muzvimwe told the court that the accused and their accomplices who are still at large, armed with machetes and homemade knives met the now deceased Trust Chikela, who was in the company of Brighton Munyoro and Manford Gunya along a path near Mimosa Mine turn-off, Zvishavane.
The accused are reported to have forced the villagers into a disused mine that was about 200 metres away. Munyoro is reported to have escaped and informed nearby villagers of the kidnapping.
When the villagers were fighting the gang, the hostages including Chikela tried to escape but were seen by the gang. Chikela was pushed back into the approximately 75 metres deep disused mineshaft by the gang where he died instantly.
A police report was made resulting in investigations that led to the arrest of the accused.
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