Robbers hit service station, forex dealers

POLICE here have launched a manhunt for three men who allegedly robbed four people of a vehicle, $3 035 and R20 000 last week.

The trio was reportedly armed with two pistols and allegedly first pounced on Ishmael Chinyana (43) who was using his black Honda Fit as a pirate taxi, at around 02:30hrs.

The suspect hired Chinyana from Khalahari Night Club to White Lodge along Bulawayo Road.

It is alleged that along the way, one of the men produced a firearm and forced Chinyana to drive to a bushy area in Makakavule Village, where they tied him to a tree using shoelaces.

“They then drove to Total Service station, where they approached one fuel attendant and two illegal money changers,” said a source close to the case.

“They pretended to be potential clients seeking to convert bond notes into South African rands. Soon after agreeing on an exchange rate, the accused persons produced two pistols and demanded some money.

“They got a total of $3 035 in bond notes and R26 000 from the three men and drove away along the Bulawayo road.” According to the source, Chinyana later managed to untie himself and went on to make a report at Makakavule Police Station.

The trio of Edmore Ndou (fuel attended) and Patrick Nyemudzai (39) and Nhamo Charamba (46) both money changers made a report at the main police station.

Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Loveness Mangena said the matter was still under investigation.

“We are yet to make any recoveries and are calling on anyone with valuable information that may lead to the arrest of the accused persons to contact the nearest police station,” he said.

“At the same time we encourage businesses and members of the public to avoid moving around or keeping large sums of money at their premises, to avoid falling victim to criminals.”

Asst Insp Mangena said the police were in the midst of conducting anti-robberies campaigns in Matabeleland South.

The campaigns, she said, were aimed at educating people on the importance of using the official banking system rather than keeping large sums of money with them.

She said in most cases the robbers were targeting those known to have liquid cash in their cars, houses or business premises.

“We advise people to embrace the banking system to avoid losing valuables to criminals,” she said.

“However, as police we cannot fold our hands and allow criminals to do as they please. Let them be warned that their days are numbered.”