The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ILLEGAL gold panners in Nyanga recently ganged up and attacked police detectives who wanted to arrest some of them.
Three of the marauding illegal gold panners have since been arrested and were arraigned before the courts facing attempted murder charges.
Tendal Mupunwa (29) of Ruwangwe, Moses Mupunwa (35) of Nyanga and Lloyd Chinyanga (37) of Mutare who are said to have masterminded the attack on the detectives were not asked to plead when they recently appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi.
They are jointly charged with assault and attempted murder.
Tendai Mupunwa is also being charged with contravening Section 3 of the Gold Trade Act, Chapter 21:03, after he was found in possession of three pieces of gold.
The trio was remanded in custody to today (Friday).
Prosecuting, Miss Elina Gadzai said police detectives were conducting an operation to clampdown on illegal mining activities in Nyarugwe area of Nyanga when they were ambushed by a group of armed men.
“The men, who were part of a gang of illegal gold panners, tried to kill police detectives who had raided their base in Nyarugwe. They also pounced on the detectives’ sympathisers and allegedly attacked them with machetes, axes and stones, and left them seriously injured.
“The detectives had gone to there to investigate reports of assault, illegal mining activities and environmental degradation,” said Miss Gadzai.
She said on October 15, the accused persons approached Douglas Mazowe, who was seated at Nyarugwe mining site safeguarding sacks of gold ore.
“They demanded that he vacates the place and leave behind the gold ore. Mazowe refused to leave and the accused persons picked some stones and pelted him all over the body. Mazowe managed to escape and went to make a police report,” she said.
When the police received the report, they reacted swiftly and proceeded to the mining site.
“The following day, police detectives from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Nyanga were on patrol at Nyarugwe mining site when they received information that the accused persons, and their accomplices who are still at large, were wanted by ZRP Ruwangwe for the assault case. The detectives approached the accused persons and identified themselves by producing their police identity cards.
“They informed the accused persons that they were under arrest for the assault case. The illegal gold panners resisted arrest, arguing that they did not commit the offence. Chinyanga mobilised a gang of illegal gold panners, who were armed with stones and logs.
“The mob surrounded the detectives, ordering them to release the Mupunwa brothers. During the scuffle, Chinyanga grabbed Detective Constable Mugadza and tore the T-shirt he was wearing,” said Miss Gadzai.
The illegal panners also hurled stones at the detectives while chasing them away.
“During the scuffle, the Mupunwa brothers and Chinyanga struck by-standers, Peter Kofi and Stephen Muririma, with stones on the head and machetes all over their bodies, accusing them of being sympathetic to the detectives.
“Kofi and Muririma sustained deep cuts on the head and were rushed to Elim Mission Hospital where they were admitted. The police detectives managed to escape with little to no injuries,” said Miss Gadzai.
After committing the offence, the trio left the place.
A manhunt for the suspects was launched, resulting in their arrest.
However, their other accomplices are still at large.
