An illegal artisanal miner from Redcliff died after he was severely beaten by a gang of machete-wielding gold panners who are believed to have been working with a mine owner in Banacort, Redcliff resettlement areas.
It has been gathered that the now deceased Willard Sibanda (20) was part of a mining Syndicate which was prospecting for gold at a mine in the resettlement areas.
The now deceased and his mining syndicate are believed to have been illegally mining at a gold
mine believed to be owned by one Bhebhe following a gold rush.
The Midlands Observer has established that tragedy struck after Sibanda’s gang members left him at
the mine to look after their loot and also continue prospecting.
It was while Sibanda was still alone that a group of machete-wielding artisanal miners pounced on
the now deceased.
Sources said he was beaten into unconsciousness that’s when the gang which is still at large fled from the scene.
Police in the Midlands is currently seized with the matter.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Joel Goko confirmed the tragedy to The Midlands Observer, and indicated that investigations are currently underway.
“The death of Willard Sibanda has reached our attention and the police are out there looking for these criminals who are still at large,” Goko said.
A source who narrated to tragedy to this publication said it was heartbreaking that Sibanda had to
die in such a way.
“Willard was with my brothers the day he was attacked, my two brothers had left him at the mine
while they went to process the gold on their return that is when they found the young Willard
unconscious laying on the ground,” a source said.
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The Midlands Observer gathered that rescue effort where made by Sibanda’s mining syndicates
who had found him lying on the ground.
They took him to Torwood Clinic before he was transferred to Kwekwe General Hospital.
“The boy was then taken to Gweru General Hospital where he could not get any treatment, the doctors at Gweru told them that the boy was supposed to be transferred to Bulawayo where he could get a specialist since he was hit on the head but unfortunately, the hospital had no fuel which then forced the family of the deceased Willard to buy fuel on their own,” the source said.
He eventually died before he could get treatment.
Efforts to get a comment from the mine owner one identified as Bhebhe proved fruitless as his number was not reachable.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased have vowed to get justice for Sibanda.
Sibanda was buried this week at Bonacort_Midlands Observer