Hospital bed court for shot killer panner

A SUSPECTED illegal gold panner from Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo who was shot by police on Sunday for allegedly killing a fellow gold miner has appeared in a bedside court session at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

Dumisani Ndlovu (25), who allegedly stabbed Howard Sibanda (19) and struck him with a pick at Lonester Mine in Hope Fountain, was with Prince Mwale (33) who was wanted for assault when police opened fire on them.

The duo and other gold panners allegedly resisted arrest and attacked police officers with stones, forcing them to shoot.

Ndlovu was injured and taken to the UBH where he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure who remanded him to June 5

Mwale was however, exonerated from the murder as it was revealed that Ndlovu was with two accomplices, Bhekinkosi Ndlela and Brighton Nhliziyo when he committed the crime.

The court heard that Ndlela and Nhliziyo are still at large.

The trio allegedly ganged up on the deceased while he was sleeping and stabbed him in the chest, before Ndlovu struck him with a pick for no apparent reason. Sibanda is said to have bled to death. Ndlovu and his accomplices allegedly fled from the scene and left Sibanda to die.

They were however, unfortunate as one of the panners reported the matter to the police.

Prosecuting, Mr Maclean Ndlovu said Ndlovu and his accomplices allegedly stabbed Sibanda and struck him with a pick last Saturday without provocation.

“The accused found Sibanda sleeping near a fire and kicked him, asking him why he was sleeping. Sibanda woke up, tried to challenge him but he kicked him again and he fell to the ground. Ndlela and Nhliziyo joined Ndlovu in assaulting him,” he said.

“One of them stabbed him on the left side of the chest and he collapsed. The accused further struck him with a pick while he was on the ground. The suspects fled the scene after the attack.”—@NyarieBakie