Deception, shock, anger, at Bulawayo’s ‘World Bank’

THE Tredgold area, a well-known hub for illegal foreign currency dealers in Bulawayo, situated around Leopold Takawira Avenue and Fort Street, is reeling in shock and disbelief following revelations that three women — long considered part of their trusted circle — were the masterminds behind a series of violent armed robberies.
Sekai Vumbunu, Georgina Vumbunu and Florence Chisiri, who were recently arrested, have been dragged before the courts for allegedly providing intelligence to dangerous armed robbers, including the notorious “terror twins,” the Vumbunu brothers, who were implicated in last year’s infamous US$4 million Ecobank daylight heist.

The trio, remanded in custody until tomorrow (October 31) for trial, stand accused of tipping off armed robbers about the movements and financial holdings of illegal forex dealers — known locally as Osiphatheleni — and small business operators in and around the city.

Armed with insider knowledge, the robbers struck with ruthless precision.
Since the early 2000s, the Tredgold area has been a recognised centre for black-market foreign currency trading, with some referring to it as Bulawayo’s “World Bank”. The community operates in a tight-knit, co-operative manner.

Many traders begin with little and earn a living by referring clients to others with larger sums, collecting commission in return. Trust and co-operation are the lifeblood of this underground economy.

“People here work like family. We operate in a way that makes the customer believe everything is seamless. You wouldn’t expect anyone in this circle to bring harm to their own,” said one dealer.

Yet that trust was deeply betrayed. According to testimonies from victims, Sekai, Georgina, and Florence would arrive at the Tredgold grounds each morning posing as fellow traders. But instead of engaging in business, they would scout for targets — identifying who was holding large sums of money and where it was kept. This information was then passed on to their accomplices, who later carried out armed robberies.

One victim, who asked not to be named, was hospitalised after being shot during one of the attacks.

“God works miracles. Exposing these people is something I consider one of the greatest achievements of my life. I never imagined that the people we eat with, work with, and even cry with during tough times were the same ones organising these attacks.

“One of the bullets went through my stomach and exited through my back. I could have died. The worst part is, these women even came to the hospital pretending to sympathise with me. I had no idea they had orchestrated the whole thing,” said the victim.

Another victim, who also requested anonymity, now walks with the aid of crutches after suffering a fractured leg during an armed robbery linked to the trio’s network.

“I never thought the people behind this would be those I laughed with every day. Sekai, Florence and Georgina — I saw them as sisters. I worked for years to save the thousands I lost during the incident and now my health is gone too. At over 30 years old, I’ve become a cripple because of people I considered family. The betrayal cuts deep, especially knowing I never wronged them,” said the victim.

Across the Tredgold area, the wider community of Osiphatheleni and small traders are expressing similar feelings of betrayal and heartbreak.

“We never thought it was someone we struggled with every day. We never imagined our missions were so different. These were women we looked up to as mothers — how could they lack such compassion?” asked one dealer

The Zimpapers news team spoke to traders who expressed a mix of emotion, anger, sorrow, disbelief, and disillusionment following the women’s arrests and court appearances. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how far some are willing to go for money and material gain — even to the point of endangering lives and shedding innocent blood.

“This teaches us how real deception is,” one trader reflected.

“It’s a warning. No matter how close people may seem, you never truly know their intentions. Trust, especially in this line of work, has become a dangerous gamble,” said another victim.