'Security guard shoots, kills gold panner'

An illegal gold panner was allegedly shot dead by a security guard at Crown Fall mine in Guruve Mashonaland Central on Sunday.

Sources familiar with incident allege Brian Chatyoka (32) was shot on the left leg by Tamuka Kufakwemuku (36), after he tried to negotiate with four Fawcett guards to allow him and his colleagues to do illegal mining but the guards did not buy his idea and a scuffle arose resulting in the guard firing at the deceased.

"Chatyoka had his colleagues from the same neighbourhood when he approached four guards on duty to negotiate on being given the passport to illegally mine.

"The guards did not like his idea and Chatyoka departed the scene running, unfortunately the overzealous Kufakwemuku fired at him and he fell on the ground," said the source.

Apparently the illegal miners fled in different directions, and when the four guards saw Chatyoka falling they thought he was dead and they fled from the scene.

The deceased was found the following morning in a river bank by one of his colleague who then filed a police report and he strongly believes Chatyoka died from excessive bleeding.

Mashonaland Central Police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case and urged security personals to exercise caution when dealing with fire arms at the same time encouraging illegal miners to be licenced.

"We received that murder case and we urge all those in the security companies to exercise caution when dealing with fire arms.

"These illegal panners should also formalise their business so as to avoid incidents like this," said Mundembe.