The trial of four Shurugwi gold panners, who allegedly kidnapped three mine owners before attacking them with machetes and sjamboks, began yesterday, with State witnesses narrating the brutal torture of the complainants.
Source: Panners kidnapping trial starts – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 22, 2017
By Stephen Chadenga
Emmanuel Charapata (25), John Tarira and brothers, Beven and Phainos Gombe allegedly kidnapped Ostern Chemhuru and Kudakwashe and Samson Ezekiel from Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi, before demanding gold ore from and assaulting them.
The quartet appeared before Gweru magistrate Shotgame Musaiona facing kidnapping, robbery and assault charges.
The first State witness, Kudakwashe, narrated to the court how he and his colleagues were allegedly subjected to more than eight hours of severe assault by the four, who said they were going to chase them away from the mining town.
“After kidnapping us from the mine, they force-marched us to Pasimupindu Bar, where they locked us in a room and took turns to whip us with a sjambok, while they drank beer outside for the whole night,” Kudakwashe said.
“They said Shurugwi belonged to them and they were going to chase us away from the town.”
Trial continues today.
The court heard that on November 15 last year, Kudakwashe, Samson and Chemhuru were in an underground tunnel at Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi.
The accused entered into the mine and demanded gold ore from the complainants, before assaulting them with iron bars and machetes.
One of the accused, Beven, allegedly struck Kudakwashe with an iron bar once on the back and left arm before searching his pockets and taking two cellphones.
After assaulting Kudakwashe’s colleagus, the accused allegedly tied the three with shoe laces and forced-marched them from the mine to Pasimupindu Bar, about 10km away.
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