Redcliff gold panner stabbed to death

Kwekwe-(New Ziana) -Police in Kwekwe have launched a men-hunt for suspects who allegedly stabbed to death an artisanal gold miner in Redcliff on Thursday.

The police are keen to interview Tafadzwa Ncube , Webster Bhebhe and two others only identified as Handsome and Thabisani after Crispen Simango (24) of Simbi Park was found dead on the side of a road with multiple stab wounds in the abdomen, back and arms.

The four had 10 other accomplices whose identities are still to be established by the police.

According to a police internal memo seen by The Times, the alleged perpetrators are illegal gold panners operating at Cactus Mountain in Redcliff.

“They belong to a group identified as the Ndebeles, the deceased belonged to a group identified as Magokwe (zviketo),” the memo said.

Circumstances are that on 24 March at around 10PM, Simango was drinking beer at Mainini Bar in the company of Josiah Nkomo, and two others only identified as Emmanuel and Ozil.

“Nkomo and Simango went outside the bar as if they were discussing something. After a while, Ncube and Bhebhe joined the two and started sharing beer. Emmanuel and Ozil also joined them and they talked for a while. (After some time) Ncube and Bhebhe left (but) returned after some minutes armed with spears and stones.”

Bhebhe is alleged to have thrown a stone which hit Nkomo on the back.

“Nkomo and Simango took to their heels towards the southern direction and the four accused persons, joined by about six others who could not be identified, ran after them,”the memo said.

Their colleagues called a search party only to find Simango lying motionless in the grass about 400 meters south of the business centre.

They reported the matter at ZRP Redcliff and scene was attended by police officers from Criminal Investigation Department Kwekwe and ZRP Redcliff.

The body of the deceased was taken to Kwekwe General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem.
New Ziana