Armed robbers raid school

Luthando Mapepa
A GANG of six armed robbers raided Chibuwe High School in Chipinge last Sunday and stole an empty safe, laptop and cellphone.

Chipinge District police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Blessing Kadzuraumera, confirmed the robbery and called on members of the public to assist police with information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

When The Manica Post visited the school on Monday morning, CID details were combing the area for evidence.

In an interview, a School Development Committee member, Mr Edmore Mugwazi, said the gang of six robbers arrived at the school around 12-midnight and tied two security guards who were on duty.

“The six robbers who were armed with guns arrived at the school premises around 12am and tied two security guards, Mary Mtetwa and Fungai Bhasera who were on duty.

“The two were not armed. They had torches in their possession.

“Two of the robbers remained at the schools’ main entrance acting as cover for those who had proceeded inside the school premises.

“The robbers tied the guards and force-marched them to the school administration block where they demanded to be shown the keys to the headmaster’s office and safe.

“The robbers broke the administration block door using an iron bar.

“They gained entry into the accounts clerk office and stole an empty safe worth $700 and a laptop.

“After stealing the laptop, the two robbers assaulted the guards and demanded them to surrender everything they had in their possession to them.

“They took a Nokia cellphone and $35 belonging to the guards,” he said

Mr Mugwazi said the robbers later dumped the guards at the school toilets before fleeing on foot in the nearby bush.

Commenting on the robbery, Asst Insp Kadzuraumera said: “We are urging schools, churches and other institution to deposit every cent collected in banks.

“They should not risk staying with large sums of cash in their offices.”