adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
TWO Bulawayo motorists were on Monday night brutally attacked at a robbery hotspot in Cowdray Park suburb where six other drivers were assaulted last month within space of a week.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube, said police were investigating the incident.
He said the robbers’ days were numbered as police were closing in on them.
“We’re investigating the matter. As police we want the motoring public to avoid shortcuts as they get exposed to these robbers,” said Asst Insp Ncube.
Responding to accusations of dereliction of duty made against the police by residents as the robbers were operating from the same spot all the time, Asst Insp Ncube said they were committed to ensuring that motorists travel safely and freely.
“We can’t be accused of incompetence. We arrested another group after the attack on motorists. It seems there is a new group or members of the first group were not all accounted for. We’re closing in on them,” he said.
Asst Insp Ncube urged motorists and other members of the public to utilise the police toll free number 110 to help the police with any information that may lead to the arrest of the criminals.
Sources said one of the people who was attacked is a truck driver who was transporting cattle.
“The truck driver was severely attacked. He was rushed to hospital and in the morning his truck was still parked at the hotspot,” said a source.
He said the robbers first attacked a motorist in a car and then used his vehicle to block the truck.
“It seemed they first pounced on a driver who was travelling in a smaller vehicle. They used his vehicle to block the road making it easy for them to attack the truck driver who was in the company of a female passenger,” he said.
The source said the woman was lucky to escape without being sexually assaulted.
“Last week there was another attack where a taxi driver who was driving a lady was attacked. The lady was raped in the process,” said the source.
Last month, police made several arrests in connection with attacks on motorists and one of the attackers Butholezwe Ncube was positively identified by his rape victim.
He is facing rape, kidnapping and robbery charges.
Ncube and his accomplices also robbed another driver Mqondisi Sibanda whom they left for dead after taking away groceries, cellphones and $566.
Online Reporter