ONE person was killed and another is battling for his life at Mutambara Hospital in Chimanimani after they were allegedly shot by security guards manning Marange Resources diamonds fields in Chiadzwa.
By OBEY MANAYITI
The incident happened on Thursday.
Although police in Manicaland were not forthcoming with details, relatives of the victims said the guards opened fire on the pair of Cleopas Mubuwa who died on the spot and Samsom Manono, who is in hospital.
The two are from Tonhorai village, an area near the Marange diamond mines. They were reportedly shot near a disused mine. A family representative, Tanganai Mubuwa, said the two were looking for stray cattle when they met the armed guards.
“The two left home looking for cattle near one of the abandoned mines when they met the guards,” he said.
“There are some water sources at that mine site and our cattle drink that water and there has never been a problem with that before. We heard there was a misunderstanding and one of them opened fire.”
Mubuwa said the family was taking care of the hospital bills for Manono and the mining company had not offered help or claimed responsibility for the incident.
Marange Resources officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The relationship between villagers in Marange and security personnel manning the diamond fields is sour owing to numerous violent clashes.
In 2012, a former police boss in Mutare, Joseph Chani was sentenced to 18 years behind bars by the High Court after he was convicted of murdering Tsorosai Kusena and heavily assaulting Pikirai Kusena, Onesai Kusena and John Gwite whom he accused of being illegal diamond panners.
