Chronicle Editor
Tarisiro Tafirenyika – [email protected]
THREE armed robbers from Binga set up a bush camp in Hopefountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo, from which they launched a series of brazen attacks on shopkeepers and residents. Their reign of terror came to an abrupt end with a swift police operation.
Billiat Mumpande (20) from Sinamagonde, along with a 16-year-old juvenile, were arrested for their involvement in robberies that took place in Hope Fountain, Bulawayo, on October 17 and 18.
The third man, Tedious Dube is still at large.
On the evening of 17 October, a 48-year-old man was at his workplace when the accused approached him under the pretense of making genuine inquiries.
Armed with pellet guns Mumpande and the juvenile, along with Dube, quickly escalated the situation. They threatened the complainant with their weapons.
The robbers forcefully marched him into his room, where they ordered him to sit down.
They rifled through his pockets, seizing US$413 and his Huawei cellphone. Not stopping there, they ransacked the room and made off with a solar panel before locking the complainant inside and taking the keys with them.
The following morning, on 18 October, a 28-year-old woman opened her shop for the day’s business. As she prepared for customers, the owner arrived to conduct a stock take. Moments later, while they were engaged in conversation, the three robbers entered the shop, posing as customers. One of them handed over US$3 and requested a loaf of bread and a 2-liter bottle of Coke. When the shopkeeper informed them their money was insufficient, Tedious Dube drew his okapi knife, threatening the shopkeeper and demanding cash.
Dube leapt over the counter, threatening the owner while searching the shelves. He seized US$430 from the shelf, US$60 from a biscuit container, a 750ml bottle of Viceroy, four 100ml bottles of Mayfair beer, a 750ml Cape Real spirit, and the shopkeeper’s Itel cellphone. In a shocking turn, he slapped a customer on the forehead and stole her Samsung Galaxy cellphone before all three fled the scene.
In a statement, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the police were alerted, and upon investigating the shop, they discovered that the robbers had been hiding in a local bush camp.
A community member had spotted them in the area, which led to a swift police response. Officers quickly located and arrested Mumpande and the juvenile at their hideout, recovering a black bag containing a pellet gun, a black and red satchel, and the stolen solar panel.
The total value of stolen items amounted to US$ 1, 132, but only US$10 was recovered. The police commend the local community for their assistance in fighting crime and urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tedious Dube to report to the nearest police station.
Online Reporter