Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A MARANGE businessman, Mr Shepherd Matongo, and his family were subjected to a terrifying armed robbery last Saturday night when a gang of heavily armed men stormed their homestead in Zhawari Village under Chief Marange.
The brutal attack left several family members injured and deeply traumatised, while the assailants looted property and demanded large sums of cash.
The incident, which unfolded shortly after midnight, has heightened fear in the community, with residents reporting that most businesses now shut their doors as early as 6pm to safeguard against potential attacks.
The armed robbers were demanding US$10 000 in cash, according to Mrs Charity Matongo.
Mrs Matongo gave a distressing account of the ordeal when The Manica Post visited the homestead on Tuesday, describing how the family was attacked in their sleep, and left battered as armed criminals ransacked the house in search of money.
Mrs Matongo said what initially appeared to be a minor disturbance escalated into a coordinated attack involving several armed robbers.
“We had just gone to sleep after watching the soccer match when my 16-year-old daughter screamed, saying someone was peeping through her window. At first we thought it were some local boys, who sometimes steal chickens. No one imagined what was about to happen,” said Mrs Matongo, adding that when her husband stepped outside to investigate, he was confronted by the robbers that were strategically positioned around the property.
“When he opened the door, he was immediately attacked, and one of our sons was struck with a catapult. He managed to overpower one of them briefly, but it became clear very that there were more people involved,” she said, adding that the situation deteriorated when more robbers emerged, armed with machetes and other weapons, overwhelming the family’s initial resistance.
“As they were assaulting him, two more men joined with machetes. They hit my husband on the head, and he bled profusely. That is when we realised there were more of them,” said Mrs Matongo, adding that the robbers overwhelmed the family, forcing her to retreat with her children into a bedroom and barricaded themselves.
“My two kids and I barricaded ourselves in one room and started screaming for help because the noise outside was unbearable. They were everywhere, and we could hear them forcing their way around the yard,” she said.
The robbers later broke into the bedroom where she and the children were hiding, demanding money at gunpoint.
“They forced the door open, and came straight at us demanding cash. They were using an electric cable to beat us. My children were crying and we were all terrified,” she said.
Visible injuries were evident on her hands and on one of the children, while the bedroom door showed clear signs of forced entry. In an attempt to stop the beating, she surrendered cash kept in the house.
“My daughter told me to give them the money. I took US$1 200 that I had in a safe, which was savings for a group, and gave it to them. I told them that was all we had, but they refused to believe me, and kept insisting that there was more money hidden somewhere,” she said, adding that the intruders were convinced the family had daily business takings in the house.
“They kept asking how much we made from the shop that day. When my son failed to give them the exact figures, they beat him again, saying he was lying. They vowed to teach him how to run a business,” she said.
The gang allegedly continued demanding US$10 000, accusing the family of deliberately withholding cash.
“They demanded US$10 000, saying they knew that we had such an amount in the house,” said Mrs Matongo, adding that tension escalated when her daughter attempted to mislead the assailants to protect the family.
“She tried to tell them there was more money in one of the trucks outside, hoping they would leave us alone, but they realised she was lying and pushed her against the wall,” she said.
She said the intruders turned the house upside down before taking additional cash and valuables.
“They took another US$300 from my handbag. They also stole phones and laptops. In total, we lost around US$1 500, six phones and two laptops. The gadgets are valued at US$1 500 in total,” she said.
The armed robbers fired a single gunshot in the air during the raid.
“They fired a single shot. At that moment my husband, who had fallen on the ground had regained consciousness and ran to a neighbour’s house for help. But when the shot went off, he thought we had been killed, and we also thought he had been shot dead,” said Mrs Matongo.
She said the criminals eventually fled, but the family continued hiding.
“When it was quiet, we went to my daughter-in-law’s room. She had blood all over because she was also assaulted by the robbers. We hid there,” she said.
Confusion and fear during the aftermath delayed assistance as neighbours initially failed to locate the family despite responding to calls for help.
“When my husband went for help, the neighbours told him to stay put. They came to check, but did not find us because we were hiding. He told them to come back and called my name, and that is how they eventually found us,” she said.
Her other son, who was in Mutare at the time of the attack, rushed home with police officers from Odzi Police Station.
The visibly traumatised woman also dismissed social media reports claiming that the robbers were “stung” by bees and surrendered themselves to the police following spiritual consultations.
“There is nothing like that. We have also seen those circulating messages, and while some people have come here asking about the alleged bee attack, I want to make it clear that these claims are nothing more than falsehoods spread on social media,” she said.
Neighbours said the incident has changed life at the usually tranquil trading centre, with many now closing early out of fear.
“People are no longer comfortable staying late. Most shops are closing early as no one wants to take risks,” said a villager.
Efforts to obtain a comment from acting Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka were not successful.
His office had not received a record of the matter at the time of going to print.
ENDS
