By A Correspondent- One of the machete welding gangs’ leaders in Chegutu was shot dead by the police in a gun exchange that occurred near David Whitehead.

The deceased, Taurai Mutandwa, also known as Kwedaz who was a leader of a machete welding gang called Team Barca, was on the police wanted list for crimes he had committed around that area.

Speaking about the incident Chegutu District Coordinator said:

Gold was discovered on 12 November at a dumpsite near David Whitehead in a trench. There was a rush of miners. A total of seven people are said to have been injured in the attacks between the gold panners armed with some machetes.

Police managed to disperse the gold panners and had to camp on the site. On Monday, there was an exchange of gunfire between the police and groups of artisanal miners.

Taurai Mutandwa was shot dead during the gunfire that took place between the group and police on site, and so far more than 33 people have been arrested and five vehicles recovered.

Machete-wielding gangs, popularily known as Mashurugwi,  have terrorised people in gold-rich areas across the country.

-StateMedia.