adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
TWO armed robbers allegedly raided a house in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb and seized $13,000 in burial society funds. The suspects are alleged to have broken into the treasurer of Simunye Burial Society, Beatrice Sibanda’s house and headed straight to her bedroom where she kept the society’s funds.
The incident occurred on Saturday at about 3AM.
Sibanda said the robbers got into her house through a toilet window and she suspects the duo was working in cahoots with a member of the burial society.
“What makes me suspicious is that when they broke into the house, they came straight to my bedroom and demanded burial society funds. Only our members know where I keep the society’s money,” she said.
Sibanda said the two men throttled her until she gave them the money. “They harassed me. I was strangled, threatened with death and roughed up. I was too frightened to take a proper look at them,” said Sibanda.
The society’s chairperson, Sibusisiwe Dube, said the money was set to benefit over 40 members and the society was penniless following the robbery.
“The situation is bad, what are we going to do if one of our members loses a relative? We’re supposed to release $1,000 to a member when there is a death in their family but now we’re left with nothing,” said Dube.
She said she could not rule out that one of their members might have had a hand in the robbery.
“What she told us makes me believe that someone within the organisation may know what happened to the money. I went to her home around 3AM on Saturday to find her crying saying the robbers only demanded burial society funds,” Dube said.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday saw Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives questioning members over the robbery while at Dube’s home.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said police are investigating the matter.
She advised members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money in their homes. “We received a report on the matter and investigations are in progress. Members of the public shouldn’t keep large sums of money in their homes as they risk being robbed. People should deposit their money in banks,” Insp Simango said.
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