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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A CASH In Transit vehicle was on Wednesday night robbed by armed robbers who made good their escape with USD$60 360 cash at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.
Tongogara Refugee Camp administrator, Mr Johane Mhlanga confirmed the robbery, and said the money was meant to benefit 13 800 refugees
“I can confirm that police are investigating the case of armed robbery that happened at Tongogara Refugee Camp. It is unfortunate that this incident has left refugees stranded.
“We had distributed part of the stolen money to refugees on Monday and Tuesday. The money in question was from World Food Programme (WFP) and was meant to buy food for the refugees,” said Mr Mhlanga.
In a telephone interview, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the robbery, and said investigations were in progress.
“We are investigating a robbery case where six private security guards who were securing the refugees’ monthly allowances were robbed by armed robbers. More details of the exact money which was stolen will be availed tomorrow (Friday),”said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.
He said two unknown suspects who were armed with an unidentified pistol pounced on the security guards and took from them the motor vehicle keys, keys for Chubb safe affixed to the vehicle and a cellphone at gunpoint.
” The suspects went on to disarm the security guards of their Norinco pistol with a magazine of eight rounds and a 303 rifle with a magazine of eight rounds. The suspects then opened the safe and stole two trunk boxes loaded with US$60 360 cash,” he said.
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