By Staff Reporter

A Chinese national, Cai Yulong, who manages the Stone Steel Blue Mine in Zhombe, has been handed a 30 year jail sentence for murder, attempted murder, and assault of Zimbabwean mine workers. The High Court, sitting in Gokwe, delivered the verdict.

The Incident; a Fatal Shooting at Black Hand 10 Mine occurred on May 26, 2024, while workers employed by Black Hand 10 Mine were on their shift, working underground to construct a barricade near the border of their mine and that of the accused’s mine. During their work, Cai Yulong approached the scene armed and discharged several gunshots at the miners.

Desperate to escape, the workers fled towards the mine’s exit. However, Cai Yulong chased after them. Amidst the chaos, the accused fired a shot that hit one of the miners in the thigh. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries caused by the gunshot wound.

In addition to the fatal shooting, Yulong also shot another worker, hitting him in both the knee and the thigh. The violence didn’t end there; he further assaulted a third miner by striking him in the head with his fists. The situation was reported to the local authorities, leading to Yulong’s arrest shortly after the incident.

Following a trial, the court found Cai Yulong guilty on all charges. For the charge of murder, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The court also handed him a separate sentence of 5 years imprisonment for attempted murder, though both sentences are set to run concurrently.

Additionally, Yulong was fined $100 for the charge of assault. He will face an additional 1-month imprisonment if he fails to pay this fine.

The Midlands region has been rocked by this act of violence, highlighting the dangers that persist in high-stakes mining operations where disputes can lead to tragic outcomes.