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Fortunate Gora Mash West Correspondent
POLICE here have expressed concern over the rise in murder cases being recorded across Mashonaland West Province.

Hardly a day passes without a person being murdered in the province, with the cases mostly common among artisanal miners.

In an interview last week, Mashonaland West ZRP spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said while statistics were not readily available, most of the cases were as a result of fights after beer binges.

“On June 11 this year, Justin Murozvi died after being viciously attacked by a group of five people suspected to be gold panners over a misunderstanding,” he said.

“His brother, Goronga Murozvi, was also stabbed several times in the stomach and is in a critical condition at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.”

Insp Mabgweazara said the gang attacked the brothers using machetes, spears, knives and catapults.

On the same day, he added Golden Magama was reportedly shot dead by a RioZim mine security guard after a group of about five people attempted to steal gold from the mine premises.

“On June 7, 27-year-old Law Dombo, an artisanal gold miner was brutally attacked and killed at Watcheer Mine in Battlefields, Kadoma by a group of about 40 gold panners following a mine ownership wrangle,” he said.

“On the same day at Norwood Farm in Selous, Forward Chitani aged 23, who was drinking beer at Norwood Tuckshop died after being hit by a burning log after a misunderstanding with a colleague.”

Insp Mabgweazara urged artisanal miner to formalise their activities to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

“There is a lot of fighting among these artisanal miners. They are killing each other almost every day over mine ownership disputes, so they should learn to formalise their operations,” he said.

The police spokesperson said reports also indicate that murder cases occur after drinking binges. He said people should refrain from resolving disputes while under the influence of alcohol.

“People should desist from solving their disputes while drunk. There are a number of deaths that came as a result of misunderstandings during beer drinking,” he said.

He also urged people to seek amicable ways of resolving disputes.

He said it was disturbing to note that despite efforts by the police and community leaders to educate people on the sanctity of human life, some people did not take heed.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to urge people to resolve their differences amicably without resorting to violence. They should seek counselling from local police stations, leaders and church elders,” he said

“We are appealing to all members of the society with positions to speak against murders at all public gatherings.”