Guard shoots panner dead

A SECURITY guard has been arrested after he allegedly shot dead a suspected illegal gold panner at Epoch Mine in Filabusi following a 15km high-speed chase.

A group of about 15 gold panners allegedly sped off in a Toyota Hiace when security guards approached them, at around 7PM on Tuesday.

The vehicle was parked at the mine, where thieves stole 102 gold carbon boxes on Monday.

The chase ended at Filabusi Business Centre when Lufukudo Mgande of Para Reserve Security and Private Investigators, fired a bullet that shattered the rear windscreen of the Hiace.

It hit the panner, Wellington Moyo in the back of his head.

He died on the spot.

Police, The Chronicle established, freed the rest of the panners after searching the vehicle and finding metal detectors.

Residents declined to speak on the matter saying they didn't see the incident as it occurred at night.

But the security company's managing director Spare Sithole said Mgande was not to blame for the fatal shooting of Moyo.

He said his guards were professionals who would not recklessly shoot suspects. In this case, he said, they fired warning shots, before shooting at the vehicle.

"After realising that they were not stopping he tried to shoot the kombi's tyres but missed because of the bumpy roads. The bullet hit the panner in the back of his head. We sincerely apologise that a life was lost but my security guard shouldn't shoulder the blame," he said yesterday.

Sithole said the guards were following a lead following a burglary.

"On Monday at about 2AM we received information that there was a break in at Epoch where 102 gold carbon boxes were stolen. Yesterday night at about 7PM we were investigating the case and we saw the kombi and tried to stop it. However, they sped off resulting in a high-speed chase," said Sithole.

He said the panners only stopped after a security guard had shot a tyre on the vehicle.

"He was executing his duty. He fired warning shots but they didn't heed his warnings. Even after the panner was shot his friends didn't stop. They only stopped after he fired the second shot when he aimed at the kombi's wheel," said Sithole. He decried disrespect given to security guards saying they deserve the same respect as is given to other law enforcement agents.

"As long as security guards are called omahobho they'll never be respected. They're serving the country and should be given respect. They've initiated citizen arrests on several criminals but people are not recognising their importance," he said.

When a Chronicle news crew visited Filabusi yesterday, the kombi had been impounded at the local police station.

Matabeleland South Acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda said the matter had not reached his office.