Gold clashes turn bloody

A MINI "xenophobia" has erupted in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province with gold panners grouping according to where they come from and engaging in territorial fights which have seen some panners being beaten and hospitalised.

On Wednesday, rivals allegedly engaged in fights which resulted in at least three people being hospitalised. When Sunday News visited the area yesterday, residents and victims of the attacks said Esigodini has now turned into a mini-war zone as rival gangs often clash over gold and women. They said the rich deposits in some areas have attracted youths from other areas but locals were teaming up to ward off the "invaders".

Mr Njabulo Mpala (27) of Garikayi/Hlalani Kuhle area in Habane in Esigodini was one of the latest victims of the terror attacks that happened in the area. Narrating his ordeal he said: "I was coming from the bush from panning on Wednesday afternoon, I met a mob of men who just stopped me and my friend Mncedisi and they said I was from Nkayi and do not deserve to be panning in the area and they just attacked me."

Mr Mpala added that he was attacked with a steel bar also known as an "isimbo" all over the body. "They fractured my leg in the process and they just left me lying there. Mncedisi was also beaten up with a shovel. I was hospitalised for four days at Esigodini District Hospital," he said.

Mr Mpala said most of the attackers were locals who have openly declared that they wanted to drive off panners from outside Esigodini. A local leader, who refused to be named fearing attacks from the panners said the attacks are unnecessary.

"It is not necessary at all to fight like this, it will lead to loss of life as you can see this young man was attacked and has a broken leg, the other two have serious head injuries as they were attacked with pangas and left for dead. If this continues we will record fatalities soon. It has to stop," he said.

He said from what they have gathered there was an altercation between one miner from Nkayi and another from Filabusi. The elder said it was disturbing to note that fighting was now along where one comes from which was almost the same as xenophobia attacks which have been experienced in South Africa and Zambia.

Residents who were also afraid of being named said the terror gangs also involved people from Filabusi who have been roped in to help those from Esigodini to deal with the so-called invaders. A woman in the area said what was terrifying was that sometimes the fights happen in broad light.

"They swarmed on our small area like bees, they were merciless because even those that are not even involved in the wars were affected. We cried because some were our children and seeing your own innocent child being attacked is painful. The men came in trucks from Filabusi and wanted to kill our children," said the woman.

Although police could not immediately comment on the matter, Umzingwane Member of the National Assembly William Dhewa confirmed the incident, but said peace has now been restored after responsible authorities stepped in.

"There were fights on Wednesday between two warring gangs, one from Filabusi and the other from Nkayi but their war zone was in Habane. I also hear the fight started when two men fought over a woman and it then degenerated into a massive gang fight. However, there is peace at the moment as responsible authorities have stepped in," he said.