A Chinese mine owner who shot and killed a fleeing artisanal miner in Zhombe before turning his gun on two others has been sentenced to 30 years in jail, with a High Court judge condemning his actions as “cold-blooded” and “cruel.”
Justice Esther Muremba on Friday released her full written judgment in the case of Cai Yulong, who was convicted last year for murder, attempted murder, and assault stemming from a violent confrontation at his Stone Steel Mine—also known as Blue Mine—on May 24, 2023.
The judge said Yulong gunned down 23-year-old Goni Goni, accusing him of illegally working underground in his shaft. He then shot John Muchawaya Bera in both legs and punched a third man, Lovemore Mapfanya.
Yulong, who was in Zimbabwe on a temporary work permit, had claimed self-defence and property protection—but the court found no justification for opening fire on the miners, who were retreating during the attack.
“In this case, the offence of murder is further aggravated by the fact that the accused shot the deceased and his colleagues as they were fleeing for their lives,” Muremba ruled. “The sanctity of human life must be upheld, and the accused’s actions demonstrate a cold-blooded killing.”
Yulong received 30 years for murder. For the attempted murder charge, he was sentenced to 10 years, with five suspended on condition of good behaviour. The effective five-year term will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
In a harrowing victim impact statement, the father of the deceased said he was devastated by the loss of his only son, who was also the family breadwinner. “He had expected his son to marry and provide grandchildren,” the judge noted.
The court also heard that Bera, who survived the shooting, remains on crutches and has lost all hope of returning to the mining industry due to his injuries.
“The accused exhibited a high degree of cruelty by holding the complainant with one hand while shooting him in the back of his legs, completely disabling him from walking,” said Muremba.
She added that despite a doctor’s opinion that Bera might not suffer permanent damage, the reality was far more grim: “The victim is still nursing his injuries and unable to support his family.”
Yulong’s defence was dismissed as weak, with the court rejecting his claim that the assault charge had been fabricated.
Despite the State pushing for a 40-year jail term, the court imposed a combined effective sentence of 30 years, citing the need to avoid excessive cumulative punishment.
