Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A PROMINENT bus operator lost more than US$17,000 and two fire arms to armed robbers on Sunday.
Itai Matavata, 57, of Munenzva Buses lost the money and the firearms to a gang of about 10 armed robbers who pounced at his garage along Willowvale Road soon after midnight.
They tied his security guards, dismantled the CCTV system and got away with the cash and firearms.
“The robbers have grounded me,” said Itai.
“We always bank our cash but on this day we received payment for a bus, which we disposed, during late hours.
“Our intention was to buy a new one the following day.
“There is nowhere you can hide the selling of a bus but how the robbers came to know about the payment leaves us with a lot of questions.
“I have been in this business for some time and it never happened.
“Apart from the safe containing US$17,000 there was another safe with cash whose value we are yet to ascertain.”
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the case.
“Police are investigating an armed robbery case at a bus garage in Southerton,” said Insp Chakqnza.
“Ten men wearing woolen masks were reported to have jumped over the pre-cast wall and used an unknown object to break the office external wooden door and gained entry into the office and other rooms.
“Four of them were armed with unidentified firearms.
“In the main office the accused persons got hold of the security guard, kicked him on the back with booted feet demanding to know where cash was being kept.
“The accused persons tied the guard’s hands at the back using a rope and covered him with blankets whilst guarded by two accused persons.
“The other eight accused persons ransacked offices, destroyed the CCTV server, used a grinder to open the safe and stole US$17 000 and two firearms,” said Insp Chakanza.
