A group of armed robbers attempted to break into China Zhuhe Mining’s gold mine in Mutoko in the early hours of Thursday, leading to the death of one suspect and a police investigation into the incident.

According to an official statement released by the company, the incident occurred at approximately 00:33 a.m. on October 9, 2025, when a gang of unidentified individuals climbed over the courtyard wall of the mining site in an attempt to commit robbery.

An on-duty Chinese engineer, who was armed with a legally registered security firearm used for mining operations, fired several warning shots into the air to deter the attackers. The gang fled the scene immediately in different directions.

At around 7:00 a.m., local workers arriving for the morning shift discovered a critically injured man about one kilometre away from the mine. They reported the matter to Mr. Zilu, the company’s local translator and supervisor, who responded swiftly to the scene.

Upon questioning, the injured man reportedly admitted that he had been part of the robbery attempt and had been abandoned by his accomplices after being injured. Mr. Zilu then arranged to report the incident to the police. However, by the time police officers arrived, the suspect had succumbed to his injuries.

While law enforcement was still on its way, some local villagers who came across the body mistakenly believed that Chinese employees were responsible for the man’s death. The misunderstanding led to a brief confrontation, during which several Chinese employees were besieged.

Police arrived in time to defuse the situation and restore order. Authorities have since confirmed that the deceased was part of the group that attempted to rob the mine.

In a statement, the company said: “We thank the local police for their timely response and swift action in bringing the situation under control. The Chinese engineer involved is fully cooperating with the investigation.”

Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the attempted robbery. One accomplice of the deceased has reportedly confessed to participating in the crime and is cooperating with authorities.

The search for other suspects linked to the robbery is still underway.

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