Zimbabwe – In a statement seen by faceofmalawi, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed a shooting incident in TARKKA Forest in  Chimanimani in Manicaland province on Friday.

Nyathi said police shot three people on Friday, who were stealing timber at TARKKA Forest in Manicaland. Two of the three people died on admission to Rusitu Mission Hospital while one is still admitted at the institution.

Police allegedly opened fire after a police officer was attacked by thirty (30) suspects. In the statement, Nyathi says police fired warning shots which were ignored by the attackers until the three suspects were shot. It is not clear if police arrested some of the other suspects who were not shot.

Nyathi said police are investigating the incident. He urged members of the public to observe the law at all times. iHarare publishes the statement in its entirety below:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating an unfortunate shooting incident which occurred today at TARKKA forest, Chimanimani where two people died and one was injured when timber poachers clashed with Police officers.

The poachers had left a tractor and trailer when Zimbabwe Republic Police deployed members on 1st July 2020 and grouped on 3rd July 2020 before attacking police officers with a Police Sergeant being trampled upon by thirty suspects before other police officers reacted. They fired warning shots which were ignored until the three suspects were shot and taken to Rusitu Mission Hospital. Two suspects died on admission while the other one is currently admitted at the same institution.

Police are conducting comprehensive inquiries into this regrettable incident and urge members of the public to observe the law at all times.