Village head leads violent protests at mine

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A VILLAGE head at Muroiwa in Guruve is in soup after allegedly mobilising 15 villagers to protest against the police and security guards chasing away illegal gold miners at Eureka Mine and causing the death of two people in the process.

By SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

A VILLAGE head at Muroiwa in Guruve is in soup after allegedly mobilising 15 villagers to protest against the police and security guards chasing away illegal gold miners at Eureka Mine and causing the death of two people in the process.

The matter came to light when Obert Muroiwa and the 15 villagers appeared before Guruve magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe yesterday, who remanded them to January 16.

The state alleges that on January 2, the village head mobilised villagers, namely Irene Muzava (40), Carrington Sarewu (32), Newton Sarewu (25), Sarudzai Kugotsi (18), Kudakwashe Mazhambe (27), Tawanda Mazhambe (18), Prince Chimupisi (45), Tinashe Karunga (38), Agatha Mazhambe (61), Susan Mazhambe (50), Tendai Mazhambe (46), Edy Phiri (49), Diles Kware (38), Cathrine Nhau (37) and Lilian Kazunga (39) to protest against security guards and police officers guarding the mine from artisanal miners.

Muroiwa further accused the security guards of the death of his two relatives Learnmore Muroiwa and Moses Thomas who drowned in Dande River while running away from the security.

The village head allegedly approached a senior cop at the mine and demanded to see the security guards.

He was told that he did not know where they were. The gang allegedly teamed up and assaulted the cop forcing his colleagues to flee from the scene after witnessing the chaotic situation.

In a fit of rage, the gang started destroying windows of the security base while the police watched from a nearby bush. Albert Mazhindu prosecuted.