Two white gold panners killed in Zimbabwe

TWO men from Bulawayo were killed while panning for gold near Kwekwe River early this week by people they had hired to assist them.
Pevey Geoffrey (65) and Michael Sunderland (35) of Morningside in Bulawayo had gone to the Midlands mining town in search of the mineral.
Police chief spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed the incident. He said the incident occurred on Sunday after the pair travelled from Bulawayo and met Farai Lawrence Ndlovu and Wellington Gadzira in Gweru.
The two, it is reported, believed there was some gold near Kwekwe River and took Ndlovu and Gadzira with them in their Nissan Patrol.
About 2km before Kwekwe River, Asst Comm Bvudzijena said they turned left into a gravel road and drove for about 10km before they parked.
"During the course of the drive the two (Ndlovu and Gadzira) who where at the back of the truck drank some water which they later gave to the two whites to drink," he said.
Armed with metal detectors the four started searching for gold.
"Farai Ndlovu went with Michael Sunderland while Pevey Geoffrey went with Wellington Gadzira in different directions in search of gold," Asst Comm Bvudzijena said.
He said during the hunt for gold Ndlovu and Gadzira attacked Geoffrey and Sunderland using picks and left them for dead.
"The two searched their victims and stole US$200 and drove away in the Nissan Patrol," he said.
On Tuesday, the relatives of the two reported to police them missing.
"A manhunt was launched and the stolen vehicle was tracked to Rutenga and a hot pursuit was initiated with assistance of the relatives," he said.
The pursuit led to Ndlovu's arrest near Sango Border Post.
Police also recovered the vehicle, which they believe was about to be smuggled into Mozambique. Ndlovu (23) led police to where they had dumped the bodies of the two victims.
The bodies were taken to Mpilo Hospital for post-mortem.
Asst Comm Bvudzijena said Ndlovu would soon appear in court facing murder charges.