Machete-wielding robbers attack travellers

area near Longwe River at around 8PM, Bongani Ndlovu saw a silver kombi parked by the roadside.

“Ndlovu stopped his vehicle and disembarked as he thought the occupants of the kombi had a breakdown. At that moment eight people came out of the kombi armed with machetes and attacked Ndlovu and the five passengers while demanding money and other valuables,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said the suspects allegedly forcibly took $70, R400, 20 litres of petrol which was in a jerry can, spanners and three cellphones before smashing windows and lights of the victims’ car. Nothing was recovered.

Mr Ndlovu and the five passengers who were all going towards Nkayi escaped and sought refuge at a nearby homestead.

They returned to the vehicle after two hours and found that all the vehicle’s lights and windows had been smashed while all tyres were deflated. The suspects had driven off in their kombi. Meanwhile, Chief Insp Makonese appealed to members of the public who may have information about the whereabouts of the suspects to report at their nearest police station. — @ncubeleon. GOVERNMENT has successfully concluded the Emergency Typhoid vaccination programme which targeted the disease outbreak hotspots in the country.

The vaccination programme started on February 26 and was completed on March 4 and covered nine suburbs in Harare.

More than 300 000 people between the ages of six months and 45 years were vaccinated during the exercise.

The Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira, said 86 percent of the target population was vaccinated.

She commended members of the public for co-operation during the programme.

“Our target was 342 000 persons and we achieved 86 percent coverage overall. The most efficient age group was 5-16 years, which are the school going age group and we achieved 97 percent of those. In the six months to four years, we achieved about 62 percent coverage during our exercise.”

“We left some vaccinations at local health centres so that the few people who may have missed out are able to present themselves at their convenience at various centres at the target suburbs,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said it was not something to be proud of that the country is the first ever to vaccinate for typhoid on the continent, although she stressed that it was a good thing that the country had demonstrated high levels of efficiency and preparedness in health emergencies.

“It’s not something to be proud of, being the first country to embark on a typhoid vaccination, however in terms of effective intervention, we are very happy as we have shown that our ministry is capable of responding rapidly and we are very happy and we appreciate Government, the World Health Organisation and other organisations that provided technical support for us to build a case for vaccination,” Dr Manangazira said.

The vaccination programme will also prevent antibiotic resistance as there were reports of considerable drug resistance during the intensity of the outbreak.

Dr Manangazira said the vaccination programme was important to prevent the epidemic spreading to other parts of the country. — @andile_tshuma NINE men wearing balaclavas recently pounced on a factory in Bulawayo and stole two small safes containing R 94 923, US$11 719 and $696 bond notes.

According to police, the robbers jumped over the factory’s precast wall to gain entry. They then assaulted a security guard with a metal bar before breaking into the factory and ransacking the storeroom where the safes were kept.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the robbery occurred at around 1AM on February 27 in the Belmont industrial area.

“On the said date and time, nine male adults wearing balaclavas scaled over a precast wall and gained entry into a factory where they suddenly pounced on a security guard manning the premises.

“They hit him with a metal bar on the head and tied his hands and legs using a piece of wire, electrical cables and plastic strings. The accused persons proceeded to the factory entrance where they broke padlocks and gained entry into the workshop.

“While inside, the accused persons ransacked a storeroom and stole two small safes which they forcibly opened and took R94 923, US$11 719 and $696 bond notes,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He encouraged property owners to step up security at their properties.

Business people have also been urged to avoid keeping cash at their premises as they risk being robbed. “Police are urging property owners to step up security at their premises and where possible, they should install CCTVs,” Asst Comm Nyathi.

He appealed to members of the public who might have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact their nearest police station or the National Complaints Office on telephone numbers (0242) 703631. — @ winnie_masara