Police in Nkayi have taken into custody Mbekhezele Ngwabi (52) and Elisha Matsvai (45), both employed as security guards at DGL5 Mine in Inyathi. The arrests follow a violent incident on 30 November 2025, in which an illegal miner was killed and another seriously injured.
According to the state, the two guards confronted a group of artisanal miners who were demanding the release of a colleague detained for illegal mining. During the confrontation, Ngwabi allegedly fired a 12‑bore rifle at Thabo Ngwenya (24), striking him in the chest and neck. Ngwenya died en route to the hospital. Matsvai is accused of shooting Nkosikhona Moyo (19) in the eye and left arm; Moyo survived but remains under medical care.
The victims had approached the guards to demand the release of their friend, who had been apprehended for illegal mining activities at the site. The guards’ use of live ammunition has sparked outrage in the surrounding community, echoing previous tensions at the same mine where a similar shooting was reported earlier this month.
Mine owner Francisco Marconitti has publicly expressed regret, stating that the guards were instructed to use rubber bullets, not live rounds. He pledged to cover funeral expenses and medical bills for the injured, while also emphasizing that the company would cooperate fully with the investigation.
Police have confirmed that both suspects are being held at Inyathi Police Station pending further questioning. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between artisanal miners and security personnel in Zimbabwe’s gold‑rich regions, where disputes over access to ore frequently turn violent.