Gwanda, Zimbabwe – March 6, 2025

By A Correspondent | ZimEye | A Chinese national, identified as Yang Zhian (36), has been remanded in custody for murder following the fatal shooting of Pardon Gumbo (31), an artisanal miner, at Long Fortune Mine in Collen Bawn, Gwanda.

According to police reports, on March 5, 2025, Gumbo and a group of artisanal miners illegally entered the mine to prospect for gold using metal detectors and a mattock. A security guard, Gift Tashinga Mandeya (22), confronted the group and attempted to block their access. However, they ignored his warnings and continued searching for gold near the slime dam.

Mandeya then alerted Yang Zhian via radio, who allegedly armed himself with a firearm and rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, Zhian fired shots towards the group, striking Gumbo in the forehead. The victim was later found lying unconscious on the ground, and his fellow miners quickly called the police.

Gumbo was rushed to Gwanda Provincial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Court Appearance and Ongoing Investigations

Yang Zhian appeared in court yesterday, where he was remanded in custody until March 21, 2025, as investigations continue.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage among the artisanal mining community and renewed debates over tensions between local miners and foreign-owned mining companies. Authorities have vowed to thoroughly investigate the case and ensure that justice is served.

Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.-ZimEye