Arron Nyamayaro
WESTGATE residents are facing sleepless nights again after 10 armed c terrorised residents and businesspeople on Monday, making off with more than US$36,000.
Four Chinese nationals and two security guards were among those targeted.
The suspects, who wore black balaclavas and gloves and were armed with two unidentified pistols, an axe and a hammer, reportedly jumped over the precast wall of a house along Acacia Drive in Westgate, Harare.
Around midnight, the security guard and his wife were asleep in their cabin when the robbers ordered them to lie down. The couple were tied up with a dressing-gown belt, and the suspects stole US$20 from under a pillow.
The robbers then ordered the guard to call a second security guard who was manning a nearby house.
When the second guard arrived, he was apprehended and ordered to hand over his shotgun and three rounds of ammunition. The robbers handcuffed him.
The two guards and the woman were taken to another house along Acacia Drive and ordered to sit in a bamboo-covered area near the main gate. One of the robbers remained behind to guard them.
The other suspects attacked two Chinese nationals who were sitting in a car and stole US$28,000. They then entered the house and demanded more cash. Before leaving the room, they took a CCTV digital video recorder.
The robbers tied up those inside the house. As they were leaving through the gate, they encountered another Chinese businessman, attacked him and stole US$8,000.
The case was reported at Mabelreign Police Station under RRB 7026178.
In another reported case, on 28 October 2026 at around 11.30pm, the complainant was asleep in her bedroom together with her four minor children when she was awakened by two armed robbers who had entered her bedroom through the door which was closed but not locked.
Armed with complainant’s kitchen knife which they picked in the room they threatened the complainant with the knife demanding cash from her.
She pleaded with them saying she had no cash.
They ransacked the whole room and took car keys which were on the table went on to tie the complainant on both hands and legs using her doek and an electric cable.
They dragged her outside, opened the boot of her motor vehicle, a Suzuki Solio which she uses as an in drive and bundled her into the boot. They drove off and ordered her to direct them to her employer’s residence at number in Tynwald South, Harare.
Upon arrival at Tynwald South, they dumped her and drove off with the complainant’s vehicle and her Samsung A76 cellphone.
The case was reported at Marlborough Police Station under RRB 6898331.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.
Armed robberies caused panic among Westgate residents several months ago. The number of cases declined after police increased night patrols and conducted awareness campaigns in the area.
