The Sunday News
Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
A security guard at a mine in Vugwi in the Midlands Province shot and injured six gold panners who wanted to disarm and injure him with machetes so that they could gain entry to the premises he was guarding.
Chakanyuka Debwe (42) was guarding Biltong Mine located in Vugwi, the area which has been under constant attacks by groups of gold panners led by a man identified as Jajalazi who is on the police wanted list.
Debwe who resides in Gweru appeared before Gweru magistrate Mr Peter Madiba facing charges of attempted murder.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody on $500 bail. Debwe told the court that he shot the panners as a way of defending himself.
“I acted in self defence, a group of around 100 illegal gold panners stormed the mine that I was manning, and they were intending to pan for gold illegally. They were armed with machetes, sticks and stones intending to turn the mine into a war zone,” said Debwe.
“They became very violent and started to attack us with stones, I fired five warning shots. Luckily the police came to our rescue and they managed to disburse the crowd of gold panners.”
He said later the same day, the gold panners returned and they were still heavily armed with machetes, knobkerries, sticks and stones. Dehwe said they threatened to kill him if he prevented them from gaining access to the mine.
“They started to stone us before I fired warning shots but they continued to advance towards us. That is when I shot the ring leader who wanted to disarm me but his colleagues were not deterred and continued to come in full force and I eventually shot five more before they all fled,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Ncube told the court that on 18 November, Debwe was manning the mine with a 303 rifle while his colleague had a Mossberg.
He shot at and injured six gold panners who invaded the mine armed with machetes.
One gold panner was seriously injured and was referred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment.
