ARMY have been spotted in Inyathi area in Bubi district following bloody attacks on residents including an off- duty solider by suspected illegal gold miners from Shurugwi in the Midlands province.
Six people were admitted at Inyathi District Hospital while the off-duty solider, Martin Khabo, was admitted at Mpilo Hospital following the callous attack by the assailants who are still at large.
The situation at Mahamba Business Centre, the scene of the clashes, was tense when New Zimbabwe.Com news crew visited the area amid reports of soldiers’ presence in the area.
Newzimbabwe.com news crew also saw four trucks with armed soldiers on Tuesday night travelling towards the beleaguered area.
“Following the attacks, people here are now living in double fear. The fear induced by the attackers is still lingering in the minds of most people here,” said one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization.
Some villagers who confirmed the presence of soldiers in the area said they were also afraid that the army could be on a revenge mission over their colleague who was brutally assaulted during the scuffle.
“At around 8pm on Monday, three to four trucks of soldiers arrived at the Mahamba growth point. The soldiers did not talk to anybody but when we woke up this morning (Tuesday), the soldiers were nowhere to be found,” added another resident.
Newzimbabwe.com also caught up with some of the victims of the attack who narrated their ordeal.
“I was waiting outside Senco Night Club when two people suddenly struck me with a machete on the head. When I tried to resist, I realized that more people were coming to attack me,” said Comsoni Sibanda who was admitted at Inyathi District hospital for two days. Sibanda sustained a deep machete cut on his head as well as a deep knife cut on his left arm.
Another victim, a 19 year old teen, Aron Muzizi, was also admitted at the hospital after being struck with a machete on the shoulder. Muzizi said he his assailants were of Shona origin.
“I heard that the people who attacked me are from Shurugwi. Up to now, I still can’t understand why they attacked me because I am not involved in gold mining activities. My only hope is that these people are brought to book,” said Muzizi.
Mqondisi Moyo, the president of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) which advocates for devolution of power, demanded that Shona-speaking illegal miners should vacate the area before more bloody clashes.
“If we had devolution of power in this county, these problems would not be there. We cannot allow a situation where another tribe literally takes over our resources and attack our people. These people should vacate the area and go back to wherever they came from before the local people start retaliating,” said Moyo.
Running battles involving Shona and Ndebele speaking illegal gold panners over occupancy of lucrative gold claims have been on the increase in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
In November last year, an alleged ringleader of a gang of gold panners linked to an Esigodini gold baron, died when his right foot was chopped off in a mass fight over a mining claim in Filabusi.-Newzim
