GUARD GETS 25 YRS FOR MURDER

A SHAMVA Gold Mine security guard has been handed a 25-year sentence for shooting an illegal artisanal miner who was part of a gang that had invaded the minefields.

Jeremiah Saungweme (48), an ex-soldier, was branded overzealous for shooting and killing the panner.

High Court judge, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, said the zeal and killing of the panner was inexcusable.

“There was no need to pursue them because they were leaving the site on their own volition.

“From my understanding, Shamva Gold Mine is a conglomerate. There was no reason he had to be as zealous as he exhibited in this case.

“The large corporation that the gold mine is, surely had at its disposal other lawful means of protecting its assets than the indiscriminate killing of locals who wanted to eke a living from the mineral resources around them.

“The killing of the deceased was therefore inexcusable,” Justice Mutevedzi said.

The judge said Saungweme showed complete disregard for human life.

“He unfortunately showed a complete disregard for human life by failing to assist the deceased at the time that he shot him.

“Even grave as the injuries were, the least the offender could have done was to attempt to help. He did not,” ruled the judge.

The court also noted that Saungweme was misguided to think that he had to protect the asset to a point he could kill if necessary.

It was also accepted that the deceased and his accomplices were carrying out illegal mining activities in the gold minefields.

The State said on the fateful day, Saungweme was called to react to an invasion, and he went to the affected site with three other security guards and chased the panners.

The deceased was, however, singled out by Saungweme, who was armed with a revolver.

He tracked him into a bushy area and shot him in the back of the head, and he died instantly.