The ManicaPost
Wimbainashe Zhakata Post Correspondent
A Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security guard was last week arrested on murder charges for fatally shooting a Mutare illegal diamond miner who had teamed up with colleagues and sneaked into the protected gem fields.
Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Taviringwa Kakohwa could not be drawn to comment on the matter but sources privy to the incident identified the deceased as Phillimon Manhanga (27), of Chareka Village under Chief Marange.
Manhanga had sneaked into the highly secured diamond fields with four accomplices.
“On August 18, 2019, at around 4am, Manhanga and his four friends namely Simbarashe Mhuka (24), Witness Kagurabadza (29), Oswell Chamanda (21) and Prince Matinyadza went to the old Mbada Diamond Mine, in Chiadzwa to engage in illegal diamond mining activities.
“Upon arrival, the five sneaked through the security fence and walked for about 10 metres from the fence with Manhanga on the front.
“There was poor lighting from the moon and they encountered Emmanuel Pfidza, a ZCDC security guard.
“Upon seeing Pfidza, and sensing danger, the five made a sudden turn and ran away. Pfidza reacted by firing a shot from a shotgun, and it hit and severely injured Manhanga to the extent that he screamed and summoned for help,” said the sources.
“They assisted him to sneak out of the fence, and later observed that he was gasping and becoming weak.
“The deceased called one of his colleagues Langton Matanga (36) to ferry him to Mutambara Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Matanga subsequently made a report at Cashel police base.
