The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa/ Michael Magoronga
IN an incident resembling a scene in the famous bloody movie Hotel Rwanda, Kwekwe residents woke up to a gruesome murder of two gold panners who were allegedly butchered by a group of 13 gold panners wielding machetes and Colombia knifes while drinking beer at a local shebeen in Mbizo 15, in the gold rich Kwekwe.
The vicious attack also left three other gold panners seriously injured and battling for life at Kwekwe General Hospital. It was around 9pm on Thursday last week when one Silas Chibharo and his friend Norest Moyo, who are artisanal miners from Kwekwe, invited their acquaintances for a beer drink to celebrate at a local shebeen after hitting a score at the pits of the gold jungle.
They started drowning their sorrows while listening to some soft music and being treated to some erotic dances oblivious to the horrendous attack that was being planned somewhere and waiting to happen to them. As they were becoming tipsy, a group of 13 gold panners armed with machetes allegedly pounced at the shebeen and randomly attacked them leaving two dead and three seriously injured. The deceased have been identified as Almighty Tshuma and Tafadzwa who were also gold panners. A withness Mr Lloyd Chipinda narrated how the drama unfolded.
“We were five and seated outside the house in a cabin that we use as a kitchen while drinking our beer. It was around 9pm when the gang just appeared from the dark. One of them attacked me with an empty bottle on the head and I rushed inside the house and locked the door from inside,” he explained.
He said the gang, numbering about 13, forcibly gained entry by attacking the door using machetes.
“I tried to escape using the other exit point, but unfortunately they had surrounded the house and one of them stabbed me on the abdomen with a knife. I heard one of them shouting that I wasn’t the one they were looking for and that is how they let me go. But when I went outside to check on the others, Tafadzwa was lying on the ground near the gate. It looks like he was trying to escape and they got hold of him before assaulting him,” Chipinda explained.
Tshuma laid sprawled in the coagulation of his blood in the corridor where he died.
“Chibharo and Norest were also lying on the ground, blood gushing out while they were screaming for help,” he explained.
He said there was a time he lost his senses for a while as he tried to grasp what really was taking place.
“As I got back to my senses, I then realised I was the better of them all and I called police who then attended the scene,” he said.
When the news of the callous murder started to spread, the Sunday News rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital to get more information from the survivors. At the hospital and in the male surgical ward, the smell of blood, fresh human flesh and that of the hospital pervaded the atmosphere and as we entered we were greeted by patients with deformed faces, broken hands and legs, dismembered body parts all being victims of machete attacks as a result of the running battles fought fiercely between illegal gold miners.
As if this was not enough, the female surgical ward was also flooded by victims of machete attacks and robbery all perpetrated by illegal gold miners in Kwekwe. Surely the gods must have forsaken Kwekwe. It has become a home to amakorokoza running battles that usually end in loss of life while no one seems to respect the sanctity of human life. What is disheartening is that despite the culprits being known, they are still roaming the streets. Kwekwe residents are now living fear as the machete wielding illegal gold miners seem untouchable, uncontrollable.
Kwekwe General Hospital Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Mike Matambo says on average, the hospital treats 15 people per week who are victims of machete attacks in the amakorokoza running battles.
“We are now used to this. We treat an average of 15 people a week who are victims of machete attacks. These are only those treated at this hospital, not mentioning those who seek treatment from other health institutions,” he said.
Local traditional leaders have also expressed disgruntlement over the issue. Senator Chief Ntabeni blamed police for not apprehending the culprits.
“Police are not executing their duties diligently. It is as if the law does not exist in this area. As traditional leaders we are very worried. Our communities are no longer safe,” he said.
His counterpart, Chief Gwesela corroborated that police were not doing enough to stop the running battles. Acting Midlands Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said; “I will have to confirm with Kwekwe on whether the cases of machete attacks are occurring at the rate at which you are talking about. We intermittently do stop and searches. Generally the carrying of weapons is illegal,” she said.
