Police hunts for machete, AK47 wielding gang

ZTN Reporter

Police in Zimbabwe are hunting a group of 15- man machete and AK47 yielding men that terrorized shop owners at a business centre in Gwanda and left with R14 000, $1 100 and groceries whose value is yet to be ascertained.

Gwanda is located 126 kilometers south east of the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city

Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi says investigations are underway.

“I can confirm that we recorded an armed robbery case which occurred at Gobathema Business Centre where a group of 15 unidentified men who were armed with machetes and an AK47 rifle went about robbing shops.

“They arrived at the business centre, fired two shots in the air to threaten patrons who then fled. They invaded several shops and took cash amounting to R14 000, $1 100 and groceries whose value is yet to be ascertained.

“Investigations are underway and we would like to appeal to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact any nearest police station.”

A witness said the gang first pounced on Allan’s Butchery, where they struck the owner with a machete and left him unconscious.

“At Thembisiwe Ndlela’s shop they forced open a locked door and gained entry. They demanded cash from her and she gave them R9 000 and they also took some groceries and left.

“The gang went on to Khethiwe Nyathi’s shop where they broke a window in order to gain entry. They demanded cash from her and she gave them R4 500 and $940 and they took some groceries. They loaded the goods in a vehicle and drove away,” said the source as reported by The Chronicle.

Crime in Zimbabwe always spike during the festive period and police are warning businesses to be vigilant and to desist from keeping cash at their places of business.