The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
POLICE have arrested four gold panners, who allegedly bludgeoned a fellow illegal panner to death in a fight over mining claims in Zhombe, Kwekwe on Sunday.
The four, including two juveniles both aged 17, were reportedly part of a gang of illegal gold panners operating in Sesombi when they allegedly teamed up and assaulted the now deceased Albert Antonio (34) at Manyeda tuckshops.
Eight more accomplices are still at large.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the murder and the arrest of the four suspects.
“The ZRP confirms the arrest of four suspects in connection with the murder of Albert Antonio (34) at Manyeda tuckshops, Sesombi, Kwekwe on 28/11/21. Of the four suspects, two are juveniles aged 17 while two others are adults. Eight other suspects are yet to be nabbed,” Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said.
“The twelve suspects attacked the victim with knives, stones and sjamboks following a dispute over mining activities. Investigations are underway.”
Mining areas have been the centre of violence and murders since the advent of machete gangs around 2019.
Several people were killed during the violence perpetrated by machete gangs, but police controlled the situation after launching operation ‘No to Machete gangs/Chikorokoza chapera’, which saw a number of machete gang ringleaders being arrested.
