Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
JUST two days after four thieves stole a Toyota Fortuner from a house in Victoria Falls, suspected armed robbers allegedly stabbed a security guard at a private hospital before breaking into the property and stealing an undisclosed amount of money.
The incident which police are investigating, occurred around 2AM yesterday at the 24-hour Chinotimba Medical Centre.
The gang is said to have been armed with guns and knives.
The security guard is admitted to Victoria Falls District Hospital.
Chinotimba Medical Centre was closed yesterday and patients were being turned away as staff were making efforts to fix the damaged door to secure the property.
Dr Innocent Gozho a health services executive for the facility, confirmed the armed robbery but could not be drawn into giving details.
“We can only comment once we get all the facts together because we don’t want to interfere with police investigations,” said Dr Gozho.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the incident but could also not give details saying he had not been furnished with a full report as investigators are underway.
When a news crew visited the facility, staff were turning away patients seeking services.
The robbers used an unknown object to force open the back door and then stole an undisclosed amount of money.
In a similar incident confirmed by police in Kadoma, a suspected robber Doubt Kasimo (35) was arrested after he broke into Donain Clinic where he allegedly demanded keys of a Toyota Land Cruiser from a complainant who was hiding in the toilet.
The incident occurred on Wednesday last week and after getting no response, Kasimo grabbed keys for a Honda fit and drove away.
He was however apprehended at the gate by alert neighbours and security guards.
While the country has been recording an increase in armed robbery cases where guns are used, the trend has not been popular in Victoria Falls and residents and tourism players fear if not contained, such incidents could scare away tourists.
Last week’s car theft was a shock to residents and following the robbery at the hospital, residents have called on the police to increase patrols especially at night.
Residents have also called for revival of community policing through neighbourhood watch committees.
In places like Bulawayo, robbers have been targeting shops, financial institutions and security firms that transport money.
Some of the premises that have been robbed in Bulawayo include Choppies Supermarket, in Parklands, Liquor Supplies at Ascot Shopping Centre where a 32-year-old Cowdray Park woman, Thandolwenkosi Dube was shot twice in the head and died instantly, Access Finance Bureau de Change situated at Parkade Centre, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) 8th Avenue branch in the CBD.
The Bulawayo High Court was also raided last year in October when eight armed robbers gained entry into the court’s criminal registry after attacking and disarming police officers manning the premises.
Recently police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga instructed provincial commanders to deploy special units to robbery hotspots to tackle increasing armed robbery cases.
The police boss also directed police to intensify stop-and-search patrols and roadblocks to prevent crime and flush out illegally possessed guns.
Additionally, Government also acquired motorcycles and vehicles to increase police mobility and reduce reaction time countrywide. — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter