A Zimbabwean court has sentenced Chinese national Cai Yulong to 30 years in prison for murdering a miner, attempting to kill another, and assaulting a third. The incident occurred at Stone Steel Mine in Zhombe, where Yulong’s actions were described as “cold-blooded” by High Court judge Esther Muremba.
Yulong, who owns Stone Steel Mine, shot and killed Goni Goni, a miner employed by Blackhand 10 Mine, which operates in the same area. He also attempted to kill John Muchawaya and assaulted Lovemore Mapfanya, allegedly for encroaching and panning for gold in his mine.
Justice Muremba ruled that Yulong’s defense of self-defense was weak and that he had no right to shoot the miners while they were running away. The judge noted that Yulong exhibited a high degree of cruelty, particularly in the case of Muchawaya, whom he shot in the back of the legs, disabling him from walking.
Yulong was convicted and sentenced to 30 years for murder, 10 years for attempted murder, with five years suspended on condition of not committing a similar offense in the next five years. The remaining five years will run concurrently with the sentence for murder.
The court noted that Muchawaya has been left with profound pain and trauma, unable to provide for his family or return to the mining industry due to his injuries. The incident has had a lasting impact on the victims and their families.
