adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
RESIDENTS of Ngundu Growth point are living in fear following repeated incidents of shooting at the place. Residents who spoke to Chronicle yesterday expressed concern over the spate of armed robbery cases saying their lives were in danger.Vendors at some of the busiest spots at the business centre have since abandoned their businesses for fear of being gunned down.
A foreign currency dealer was shot dead on Boxing Day while three others were seriously injured near a local supermarket.
Police managed to apprehend one of the two armed robbers after his accomplice fled from the scene.
“We are now living in fear following a shooting incident at the growth point. It is now very dangerous to do our business at the business centre,” said Melody Chavechenyu, a resident.
She said following the shooting incident shops were closing early as everyone was afraid of robbers.
Said another resident: “It is now risky to open shops till late. Many business people are now closing early for fear of attack. The robbers are after innocent people’s blood.”
Robert Zunguza, an airtime vendor at the growth point concurred.
“I witnessed the horrific incident and personally heard the gun shots. I also saw the injured and the dead man. We knew the foreign currency dealer as one of us. Up to now, I can easily recall what happened as I am one of the people who took to heels after hearing the gunshot. I am still afraid,” he said.
The vendors said the incident has induced panic on many people who are now afraid to do business in the area.
A shop keeper at the growth point, Makita Chitsigo said they had since changed opening and closing times for fear of robbers.
“We have been experiencing ‘nightmares’ because of robbers who are frequenting this place. Maybe it is because we are along a busy highway to South Africa,” he said adding, “A number of suspicious people are seen loitering during awkward hours here and a lot of bad things have happened.”
The growth point is situated at the 100km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway and has been hit by robbers on several occasions.
In October two armed hijackers asked for a lift from a vehicle travelling from South Africa before shooting dead its driver and later dumping his colleague at the 146 km peg along Ngundu-Tanganda Road.
The armed robbers got away with cash and property worth $18 000.
Sometime in September four gun-toting robbers were allegedly spotted having a nice time with commercial sex workers at one of night spots at the growth points before they disappeared.
The Officer Commanding police in Masvingo Senior Assistant Commissioner Munorwei Shava Matutu is on record as saying the police have declared war on armed robbers and that some of them have already been arrested.
Online Reporter