Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze
FOR many in Bulawayo, the simple act of stepping out their front door has become a chilling gamble with life itself. A palpable fear now hangs heavy over the city’s once-familiar suburbs, as machete-wielding gangs prowl with ruthless intent. They attack, they rob, and in their wake, they leave behind not just broken bodies but the enduring scars of trauma on families shattered by their sudden, brutal violence.
This is no longer just about theft. It is terror — cold, calculated, and creeping into once peaceful homes.
In Mpopoma, 26-year-old Mr Claudius Ncube considers himself lucky to be alive. His voice trembles as he recounts the night that changed everything.
“It was exactly 7:40 PM. I had just gotten off a taxi near home. Four men in balaclavas appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me,” he said.
Without warning, they began striking him with machetes — on the head, arms, and back — while demanding money. He remembers pleading for mercy, but the attackers were relentless. They took his phone and US$40 before vanishing into the night, leaving him unconscious and bleeding by the roadside.
“When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed at Mpilo Central Hospital. I couldn’t feel my hands. My head throbbed with pain,” said Mr Ncube, showing deep scars that now criss-cross his body — permanent reminders of the horror.
In Kingsdale suburb, another resident, who requested anonymity, was ambushed just outside his home.
“They must have followed me. As soon as I parked and opened my gate, six men jumped on me,” he said.
They forced him into his house at knifepoint, demanding money. His terrified wife and children screamed for help as he tried to fend them off.
“They hit me again and again. My wife managed to escape with the kids. I gave them US$50, but it wasn’t enough. They took my laptop and phone, then disappeared into the bush,” he said, still visibly shaken.
The wave of violence is not isolated. Residents in Mpopoma speak of an unending nightmare that has engulfed their community over the past two weeks. At least four people from the same neighbourhood have been brutally attacked in similar fashion.
Another resident, who identified himself only as Mbonisi, said the fear is now palpable.
“We live in constant dread. Shops are empty at night. No one walks alone anymore. Some parents are too scared to let their children walk to school unaccompanied. I have four colleagues who have been victims of such tragic incidents, and they all sustained serious injuries. In all these cases, the attackers wore face masks,” he said.
Following similar incidents — including the brutal assault of six residents in Entumbane in April — residents are calling on police to increase their visibility across the city.
Last month, a machete-wielding gang that had terrorised several Bulawayo suburbs for months was brought to justice, with police arresting seven suspects linked to a series of violent robberies and a cellphone theft syndicate.
Police suspect a connection between these criminals and illegal gold mining activities on the outskirts of the city.
The gangs, often operating from isolated bushy areas, have targeted suburbs including Sauerstown, Queens Park, Khumalo, Entumbane, and Hillside.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube, likened the machete gangs to terrorists.
“These people have disturbed our peace. We urge the Government to deploy more security personnel to restore order. People are living in fear,” he said.
He also called on communities to work closely with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity.
“My advice to residents is that we need to collaborate with law enforcement by providing information that could ultimately lead to the end of this reign of terror by these rogue elements,” said Mr Dube.
Over the weekend, Mpopoma residents convened a crisis meeting to brainstorm ways to strengthen community safety. Many called for increased police patrols, especially at night, and investment in crime prevention programmes.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed that investigations were ongoing.
“We are still investigating these cases and will only be able to give a comprehensive comment once we have gathered adequate information concerning the rise of machete gangs in Mpopoma and other suburbs,” she said.
