×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Diamond firm guard accused of murder

News
A MARANGE Resource Diamond company guard who shot an illegal diamond panner last year appeared at the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on murder charges on Thursday

A MARANGE Resource Diamond company guard who shot an illegal diamond panner last year appeared at the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on murder charges on Thursday.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

Simbarashe Mupawaenda (31) of Kututa Village, Chief Saunyama in Nyanga was remanded to May 7 this year by magistrate Sekai Chiundura.

The court heard that on July 3 last year the accused, who is a security guard at the Marange Diamond mining concern, was patrolling the concession fields during the night together with his workmate Patrick Madoro when they came across a group of illegal diamond panners.

The accused, who was armed with a gun, challenged the panners with the intention to make an arrest.

The panners, however, resisted by charging towards the guards armed with stones.

Mupawaenda fired a warning shot to scare away the panners who kept on advancing.

Sensing danger, the accused shot directly at the panners eventually shooting Farai Madenga in the head.

Madenga was pronounced dead before reaching Mutambara Mission Hospital in Chimanimani where he had been taken by the company’s ambulance.

A post mortem was conducted at Mutare General Hospital and cause of death was severe head injuries.

Donald Mutiure prosecuted.