The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
A CHINESE national has been arrested for attempted murder after he allegedly shot an employee three times on both legs before firing at another employee grazing him on the chin following a dispute over outstanding salaries.
The incident occurred at around 9.30 am on Sunday morning when Zhang Xuelin, who is manager for a Chinese mining company Redem Mine allegedly shot his subordinate Kenneth Tachiona (39) six times on both legs before shooting Wendy Chikwaira on the chin after they confronted him over outstanding salaries.
Tachiona is recuperating at Midlands Provincial Hospital in Gweru where he was admitted after the shooting incident while Chikwaira was treated and discharged as he sustained bruises.
On the said day, Tachiona and Chikwaira went to the company offices in the company of 28 other employees demanding their outstanding salaries in hard currency after their contracts expired and forcibly entered the premises after disarming security guards.
It is alleged that a heated argument ensued between the company management and the employees resulting in Tachiona and his co-workers charging towards Xuelin and other Chinese nationals threatening to attack them.
Xuelin is said to have fired two warning shots in the air but the mob did not retreat. He then shot Tachiona on the legs before turning to Chikwaira and grazed him on the chin.
“The incident occurred on Sunday morning. About 30 employees came to the company premises after their contracts had expired. They then demanded their dues immediately based on the days they had worked following the expiry of their contracts. They then forced themselves into the premises after disarming security guards.
They then charged towards the management threatening to attack them. Xuelin fired two warning shots in the air but the mob did not retreat and he then opened fire at Tachiona shooting him on both legs. He then shot another employee on the chin,” said a police source.
Tachiona and Chikwaira were immediately ferried to hospital by Xuelin and other management staff.
Reden Mining Company has since issued an apology on behalf on the management.
They have also offered assistance and pledged to compensate the victims and their immediate families.
“As the Chinese community in Gweru, we deeply regret what transpired at Reden Mine in Gweru on Sunday 21 June 2020 when two company employees were unfortunately shot by one of the company managers following a pay dispute.
“What the manager did is his personal behaviour and does not reflect the behaviour of us all as the Chineese community.
Information at hand is that the employees who had their contracts terminated demanded cash upfront upon dismissal.
They forced their entry into the mine premises and charged towards the company manager soon after they disarmed a security detail who was manning the gate.
The mine manager who is still in police cells, fired two shots in the air but the employees continued to charge towards him. Out of fear he shot the victim on the ankle.
Meanwhile, we as the Chinese community are helping the injured who is in stable condition at a private hospital. Apart from footing the hospital bills, we are also assisting his family during this difficult period,” said the company in a statement.
Police could not immediately comment on the matter.
