1 dead, 3 injured as excavators torched at Mnangagwa son's mine

One person was killed and three others injured following violent clashes at Chenxi Mine in Shurugwi on Monday night, during which five excavators were set ablaze.

The violence erupted at Chenxi Mine Site Four in the Wanderer mining area, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly confrontation.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident but said authorities were still gathering information to establish what triggered the violence and identify those responsible.

Police have not yet disclosed the identity of the deceased or the three injured people.

Nyathi said investigations were "currently underway in connection with the public violence" at the mining site.

He added that further information would be made available as investigations progressed.

The destruction of five excavators represents a significant loss of mining equipment, although the financial value of the damage has not been established.

The incident occurred at a mining operation associated with Chenxi Investments (Private) Limited, also referred to as Chengxi, a Chinese-linked company operating in Zimbabwe's Midlands Province.

The company has reportedly been conducting open-cast heap-leach mining activities in the Wanderer, Boterekwa and Dunraven areas of Shurugwi since 2021.

Chenxi is regarded as one of the district's major mining operations.

The company has also attracted public attention because of its reported ownership links to Collins Mnangagwa, a son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Collins, who serves as the company's chairman, is reported to hold an ownership interest in the business alongside Chinese investors.

According to information reported by ZimLive, the violence allegedly followed efforts by the mining company to remove artisanal miners operating in areas claimed by Chenxi.

The artisanal miners were reportedly working under individuals identified as Marufu Sithole in Wanderer and Chris Mahara in Boterekwa.

However, police have not confirmed whether the reported eviction attempts directly caused the violence.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including who initiated the clashes and who was responsible for setting the excavators on fire, remain under investigation.

The incident has drawn attention to tensions that can arise between established mining companies and artisanal miners over access to mineral-rich land.

Shurugwi is one of Zimbabwe's prominent gold-mining districts, where large-scale mining operations and informal miners operate in areas with valuable mineral deposits.

Disputes over mining claims and access to working areas have periodically raised concerns about security and the management of mining activities.

The latest incident is particularly serious because it resulted in a death, multiple injuries and the destruction of heavy machinery.

Neither Collins Mnangagwa nor representatives of Chenxi Investments had responded to requests for comment by the time the initial report was published.

Authorities have yet to announce any arrests in connection with the violence.

Police are expected to establish the sequence of events, determine the cause of the confrontation and identify those responsible for the fatality, injuries and property destruction.

The incident remains under investigation, with further details expected from the Zimbabwe Republic Police.