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Patrick Chitumba,  Midlands Bureau Chief
A GROUP of gold panners from Shurugwi allegedly ganged up against a 32-year-old panner they accused of bullying them out of rich gold claims and stabbed him to death before throwing his body into a pit.

The gold panner was killed last Saturday and his body was discovered on Wednesday.

Two gold panners Josiah Dube (30) and Thabani Mpofu (28) appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Mr Musaiwona Shotgame facing one count of murder in connection with the death of Timothy Manyame.

Dube and Mpofu of Zhombe and Shurugwi respectively were not asked to plead.

They were remanded in custody to November 29.

The court heard that Manyame was killed and his body was thrown into a pit that is 40 metres deep on November 11 at West Farm in Shurugwi, where Dube, Mpofu, Manyame and other panners who are still at large pan for gold.

Manyame was considered a bully who would take gold ore or drive away other gold panners from their gold claims.

On the fateful day, Dube allegedly struck Manyame with an empty bottle on his head once.

Manyame attempted to run away but Mpofu and other gold panners who are still at large stabbed him on his back several times with an unknown object.

When Manyame died, they threw his body into a pit which is about 40 metres deep in a bush to cover up the act.

Manyame’s body was found on November 15 in an advanced state of decomposition.

A number of people have lost their lives in gold wars in the Midlands province. Some of the gold panners commit the crimes using dangerous weapons such as machetes.