adminBanket by three men and a woman he had offered a lift at the Mpinga Business Centre.
The incident occurred at the Trelawney-Darwendale turn-off two weeks ago.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara, confirmed the robbery yesterday.
He said investigations were still in progress and no arrests have been made.
Sen Masaba lost personal goods including US$400 cash, clothes, and two mobile phones. Nothing was recovered.
Sen Masaba confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday.
Insp Mabgweazara said Sen Masaba picked up the “passengers” at Mpinga Business Centre at around 6:45 pm on June 22.
“The passengers pretended that they would drop-off in Chinhoyi town.
“One of the men sat in the front seat, while the other three including the woman sat at the back,” he said.
Near Trelawney-Darwendale turn off, one of the men sitting in the back seat grabbed Sen Masaba from behind while his colleague took control of the wheel.
“They started stripping him at the back leaving him with only his underwear and a pair of socks before one of them produced a pistol and demanded valuables,” he said.
In an interview yesterday, Sen Masaba said the robbers had asked him for a lift when he stopped at the shops to buy a bottle of water.
“While I was driving, one of the passengers who was at the back grabbed my neck and instructed me to stop the vehicle.
“He then pulled me from the steering wheel and the one who was sitting in front took over control.
“They asked me who I was and where I was coming from. I did not disclose my identity and told them that I had gone to take my uncle’s car from the garage.”
He said the robbers stripped off his clothes.
“They cut off seat belts and used them to tie my hands and feet. They tore my shirt and used it to gag me. When we got to Trelawney turnoff, we took the Trelawney Road for about four kilometres. They then stopped the vehicle and dragged me out of the vehicle and started punching and kicking me. They then tied me to a tree using the seat belts before driving off.”
He said he managed to untie himself, but waited for the moonlight around 2am to start looking for assistance.
Sen Masaba said he went to the nearby Haydock Farm, where he was given some clothes and a place to sleep.
“I woke up around 6am the following day and walked for about four kilometres to Banket Police Station, where I made the report and CID Chinhoyi came to assist me.
“They took me to the scene but I couldn’t locate the place because I was confused. I went again the following day and I found the place. I found my trousers, torn shirt and track jacket,” he said.
He was treated at Banket District Hospital and discharged. The vehicle was later recovered dumped in Dotito, Mt Darwin last week on Wednesday.
“I was then phoned by the police from Dotito Police Station telling me that they had found my car dumped 20km from Dotito along Mukumbura road.”
He said the vehicle could have over heated as it had lost the radiator cap before the steering wheel locked.
“I opened the bonnet and found a very big knife inside,” he said.
Online Reporter