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Another murder in Chiadzwa
Centre for Research and Development
July 11, 2011

A diamond panner, John Manono, from Ngaone in Chipinge died at Mutare Provincial Hospital after his private parts were mauled by dogs set on him by guards manning the Mbada Diamonds claims at Chiadzwa recently. Although John sustained serious injuries, he did not seek medical treatment for fear of being arrested, as injured panners are asked to produce police reports before receiving treatment. As his condition worsened John was taken to Mutare Provincial Hospital on June 26, 2011, by his sister where he later died.

Below are excerpts from an article carried in the State controlled weekly about Manono's death.

"I am as good as dead. How can I live another day with such pain? This is not normal pain; my private parts were viciously mauled by dogs at Chiadzwa, " he said, showing the injuries. Manono had tears welling down his cheeks, shifting seating positions and writhing in agony throughout the interview. When he rose from the chair, he had to stop four times before taking five steps out of the office. He limped painfully, in a manner usually associated with those inflicted with sexually transmitted infections.

"I have been cursed. This is a curse. My future has been ruined. I will neither marry nor have kids. How can that be possible after this? It is as good as being castrated. Who can help me have them removed?" asked Manono. Manono said all hell broke loose last Friday mid-morning at his Chisingwi base, when six vicious dogs pounced on him and turned the unsuspecting victim into a feast. He said he was taking a good rest as they had planned to sneak into the fields around 7pm that day. However, the plans went up in smoke as some alert Mbada Diamonds guards had been tracking their movements.

"I was lying down resting and unsuspecting, when all hell broke loose with six dogs pouncing on me. I was mauled in my hands, legs, but eeish my private parts were hurt most. They are no longer intact. They were ripped apart. I cried for help, but nobody came to my rescue. It lasted 20 minutes. The guards were there watching, in fact they were enjoying it. They did nothing to restrain the dogs. I was lying on the ground as dogs mauled me. It was criminal, they acted criminally." "Now look am walking dead. I am a dead man. I have been reduced to nothing, a useless being. And I have two strong fears; the first is that I might die as a result of these injuries, especially if I do not get specialist treatment. The other thing is that the extent of the damage inflicted on my manhood will render me impotent. As you can see, I cannot walk properly, and so I cannot have sex or sire children. What kind of a man will I be even if I survive this? Sexually inactive and a childless man?" quipped Manono.

"My manhood is now useless; the pain I am feeling is so intense and my worst fear is that that I can die anytime. I do not see myself getting an erection in future," said Manono. Asked whether he had learnt anything from the experience, Manono was defiant, arguing that he would go back there and eke a living. His tone had suddenly changed from one of resignation to determination and desire to conquer. "I am a habitual panner and I was just unfortunate blaz. I will go back, even if I fail to get that money now, I will still have to go back kubasa. There are more than a thousand panners living in the mountains and going to the fields at night. Some have been there for six months. I am prepared to sell my car (Citi Golf) to raise money. It will take me less than three days to replace it," said Manono. He said the area often becomes inhabitable during police raids.

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