MANIFEST Security Company manager Refias Masuna has been taken to court for the murder of a Fort Rixon mine worker in a scuffle during an eviction.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Masuna (48) of Mahatshula North in Bulawayo was not asked to plead to the murder charge when he appeared before Bulawayo senior magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze yesterday.
She remanded him out of custody to March 5.
The court heard that Masuna allegedly killed Ernest Mudenda at Zulu 8 Mine Pioneer in Fort Rixon on December 12 2014.
It was the State’s case that Masuna, who is employed by Manifest Security Company as an operations manager, went to Zulu 8 Mine in Fort Rixon where his guards were deployed.
On arrival at around midnight, he discovered that there was a dispute over the ownership of the mine. His client Blessing Ndiweni’s workers had been evicted from the mine and the new miner’s employees had taken over the premises.
However, Ndiweni’s property and equipment was still being guarded by Masuna’s men.
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Masuna allegedly took a Noringo pistol from one of his guards and went towards the new occupants with his guards.
When the new tenants inquired who was approaching on hearing footsteps, Masuna allegedly identified himself as Ndiweni and indicated that he would shoot one of them.
The new occupants fled in different directions, but Masuna allegedly fired a shot that hit Mudenda in the upper part of his chest and the bullet exited through the upper left hand arm.
Mudenda’s body was discovered the next morning at around 6am. A report was made to the police and Masuna was arrested.
The murder pistol was recovered from the guard as Masuna had returned it after allegedly shooting Mudenda.
