Zimbabwe soldier implicated in the murder of a Marange diamond panner

Police in Marange, Mutare, have launched investigations into a suspected murder case following the death of a 66-year-old man who allegedly died after being assaulted at a security base in the Chiadzwa diamond fields on Saturday.

Efforts to obtain a comment from national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi were unsuccessful. However, according to a police memorandum dated February 8 and seen by Chipinge Times, the deceased has been identified as Tafadzwa Chamatumba (66) of Wajembwa Village under Chief Marange in Odzi.

The memorandum names the suspects as 818894B Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Mabhena, a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) member deployed in Chiadzwa under Operation Hakudzokwe, and Dzitiro Phosani, a former police constable who was reportedly discharged from the Zimbabwe Republic Police in September last year.

According to the memorandum, the incident occurred on February 7 at around 2pm at Mashukashuka Business Centre in Chiadzwa. Chamatumba, who was allegedly an illegal diamond panner, was reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct by Phosani, who then sought assistance from Mabhena, who was at nearby shops.

The two allegedly took Chamatumba to Mashukashuka Base, where they are accused of taking turns to assault him. It is alleged that Mabhena used a folded rope while Phosani used a black shambock. The memorandum states that the victim was allegedly assaulted all over the body multiple times, with water reportedly poured on him during the ordeal.

An informant, Norman Chitsau, is said to have passed by the base and witnessed the two suspects assaulting Chamatumba. At around 7pm, Chitsau allegedly passed through the base again and was called by three soldiers who were reportedly assaulting four men at the site.

Chitsau reportedly identified one of the victims as Hebert, an alleged illegal diamond panner. He was also allegedly assaulted without explanation and later taken to a bushy area, where he was reportedly asked if he knew Chamatumba, who was lying on the ground covered with a tent.

Chitsau was allegedly instructed to fetch a wheelbarrow and transport Chamatumba to his residence, which he did with the assistance of soldiers. Upon arrival, Chitsau reportedly realised that Chamatumba was motionless and not breathing.

He is said to have returned to the base to alert the soldiers, but Mabhena allegedly dismissed the report. On his way back, Chitsau reportedly encountered a group of people transporting Chamatumba's body in a wheelbarrow back to the base.

Police officers from ZRP Marange attended the scene, and investigations are now being handled by the district's Serious Crimes unit.

The memorandum indicates that the suspects had not yet been arrested at the time of writing. Investigations are continuing.