TWO men were allegedly hijacked and assaulted at Queens business centre in Matabeleland North while others escaped when a 15-member gang ambushed them demanding to be shown gold sites in the area.
PRESTIGE GAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Rodrick Zhou (36) and Tichaona Mafuka (27) of Zvishavane appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Mpofu to answer charges of hijacking and assault.
They were granted $100 bail and their case was postponed to September 18.
Sonano Ndlovu, a Raisecom Investments driver, and his friends were attacked by a group of 15 men who demanded to know where gold sites in the area were as they suspected that their victims had some gold.
The gang was armed with machetes when they ambushed Ndlovu and his friends.
“They came to where I rent and asked for the gold sites.
“I told them I did not know anything about them,” Ndlovu said.
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As Ndlovu tried to escape in his vehicle, they pulled him out and locked him in their own car and hunted for the others.
They captured Bernard Zanga and drove him together with Ndlovu to Doves Mine in Inyathi in their Ford Ranger. Ndlovu said they were brutally assaulted with a pick.
“They hit me with a pick on my left hand saying I should show them where the gold sites are,” he said.
“I stuck to my statement until they jumped over to my friend who knew nothing as well.”
Zanga told the court that they battered him with knobkerries and sticks until he bled.
After realising that Ndlovu and Zanga knew nothing about gold deposits, they searched them and took $530.