By Brighton Chiseva
The calmness and peacefulness of Nyajena, Rupike area to be precise was shattered on the nights of Monday, June 9, and Wednesday June 11 when armed robbers went on a rampage, targeting schools, business centers and villages.
It all began around 10 pm at Tugwane High School, where the two armed bandits attacked the school head, Augustine Mashasha (54). They demanded the safe keys, but when they failed to unlock it, they struck him with an axe, leaving him unconscious.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident to TellZim News and urged residents to enhance security measures at their homes to prevent such incidents in the future.
“We urge members of the community to enhance security at home. They should find ways to barricade doors at night to delay armed robbers from getting in while they call for help. If there are multiple locks, it takes more time for robbers to break in while victims call for assistance,” said Dhewa.
He said the police were investigating the cases and appealed for those who may have leads to report to the nearest police post.
After the Tugwane incident, the robbers proceeded to Rupike Village around 11 pm. They broke into Irene Phineas’ home, demanding cash and made off with US$30. Next, they headed to Tarumba Village, where they robbed 18-year-old Talent Madhori of US$20.
The duo continued their spree, arriving at Tongofa Village around the same time. They targeted Modest Muramba’s home, where they argued with Esnath Marumwa, demanding cash. They escaped with US$90.
They allegedly went on to break into Theresa Betserai’s home, slapping her after she tried to pursue them and making off with a handbag.
Their next targets were Shylet Kasimi, from whom they stole a Samsung cellphone, and Agrippa Kucherera, whom they robbed of a Tecno cellphone and US$150 cash around 2 am.
Emboldened by their successes, they then proceeded to Maweza Secondary School around 3am where they targeted two teachers. From Josephine Mubaiwa, they took US$30 cash and US$30 worth of Econet airtime scratch cards.
They attacked 38-year-old Zivekwa Fidelis. They took his vehicle and, when he tried to resist, one of the robbers struck him with an axe. After taking his car keys, they drove away in his vehicle.
While the community was still reeling from the shock of the brazen attack, the suspected same machete gang pounced on Zengeya and Guwa shopping centers, just a few kilometers away. At Guwa, they attacked and injured two kombi operators who were sleeping in a shop.
Locals managed to engage the gang in a fight, forcing them to escape and leave behind some of their tools.
However, residents lamented the lack of mobile network coverage, which they said could help alert others in case of an attack. They also expressed concern about the distance to the nearest police camp, located at Renco Mine, and called for the establishment of police bases in areas like Guwa, Rupike, and Zengeya among other areas to enhance security.
