A 25-year-old Zimbabwean security guard was allegedly shot dead by a South African, following a dispute over fuel, police have said.

The Zimbabwean police officer commanding Beit Bridge district, Chief Supt Nicholas Mawere, said the incident occurred on Sunday, 25 May, at around 20:00 along the Beit Bridge-Bulawayo road. "On the day, the victim had reported for duty, together with three other workmates, and they were selling fuel when a Gauteng-registered Toyota bakkie pulled up. Four South African men then alighted from the car and approached the victim and his colleagues on the pretext that they intended to buy fuel," he said.

Mawere said one of the suspects then produced a pistol and demanded fuel. "The victim resisted, resulting in one of the suspects’ firing a shot and hitting the victim in the chest. He subsequently died on the spot. However, the other three complainants managed to escape from the attack.

Soon after committing the offence, the four suspects drove off at high speed towards Beit Bridge town. A report was then made to police and the body was subsequently taken to Beit Bridge District Hospital mortuary.

Mawere could not release the name of the victim, saying they were yet to inform his next of kin. He said no arrests had been made.