Armed Miners Clash With Police in Inyathi: Officer Disarmed During Raid
A 38-year-old gold panner has been remanded in custody after allegedly leading a violent gang that assaulted police officers and briefly seized a service pistol during a mine invasion in Inyathi.
The incident took place on August 20 at Mudge 24 Mine, where law enforcement had been deployed to restore order amid rising tensions between rival mining groups.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the suspect, Luckmore Sibanda, confronted a team comprising police officer Obert Jakata (34), two fellow officers, and two security guards from DGL 5 Mine.
“When the complainant and his team arrived at the mine, the miners started advancing armed with axes, machetes, knobkerries, spears, and iron bars,” the NPAZ said in a statement.
Sibanda allegedly arrived in a silver Honda Fit, jumped out, and threatened the officers before pinning Jakata to the ground.
“The accused person dispossessed the complainant of his service pistol which he later returned before ordering the police officers to leave,” read the statement.
The incident has sparked concern over the safety of law enforcement personnel operating in volatile mining zones.
He was arrested on September 3 at a roadblock along the Nkayi–Bulawayo Road.
Sibanda appeared before the Inyathi Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody.
His trial was scheduled for September 9, but details of the proceedings had not been made public at the time of reporting.
B-Metro
