Story by Courage Bushe
TWO artisanal miners from the Chachacha area in Shurugwi have appeared in court facing charges of murder after allegedly stabbing their colleague to death over a gold dispute.
Oliver Ncube aged 22 and Munyaradzi Marufu (25) appeared at Shurugwi magistrates court this Thursday facing charges of murder after allegedly killing their 23-year-old colleague, Evince Mapfumo over a gold dispute.
Allegations are that on the 9th of this month, the co-accused were supposed to share 16 grams of gold with Mapfumo, but the duo reportedly decided to exclude their colleague.
The court heard that a dispute ensued when the accused met the now deceased at Nduku mine the following morning with just four grammes of gold instead of the expected 16.
It is the state’s case that during the altercation, Marufu withdrew an okapi knife and stabbed Mapfumo twice in the back under the watchful eyes of Ncube who later stabbed the deceased once on the collarbone.
The court further heard that after the heinous crime, the two fled the scene, leaving the deceased bleeding profusely.
Mapfumo was taken to Shurugwi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
