Illegal transport operators robbed, assaulted

TWO Bulawayo pirate transport operators popularly known as “mshikashika” were yesterday morning assaulted and robbed of their vehicles and belongings by yet to be identified assailants within a space of two hours.

Their assailants had approached them on the pretext of hiring them. Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said at about 12.30am yesterday the first complainant parked his Honda Fit vehicle at Palace Hotel along Jason Moyo Street and two men approached him under the pretext of hiring his vehicle to take them to Kensington. They promised to pay him US$25 upon arrival.

However, when they reached the destination, the two produced knives and attacked the complainant robbing him of US$65 before taking off in his car which had a blue A16 Itel cellphone. The total value of the stolen vehicle and cellphone is US$2 645 and nothing has been recovered.

About two hours later around 2.30am, another driver also parked his Toyota Fun Cargo (AFY 0029) at Palace Hotel where two men approached him saying they were looking for transport to Sunninghill and would pay US$15. However, when they arrived at their destination, Insp Ncube said the pair produced machetes and assaulted the complainant robbing him of US$90 before taking off in his car. The robbers also got away with a blue P37 Itel. The value of the vehicle and the cellphone was put at US$3 165. Insp Ncube said they were investigating the carjacking cases and advised motorists to be wary of people who approach them especially at night. He advised motorists to pass through police stations with the passengers.

“It is best that if one finds a hire, to acknowledge the passengers and pass through the police station for the passengers to be checked as some of them may be armed with machetes and knives. Those who refuse would be having other agendas and not genuinely looking for transport. The problem is that the victims who are mshikashika drivers will be evading the police while unknowingly carrying armed robbers.”

He also urged members of the public to desist from transporting strangers especially at night as that is risky. -@5_Shannico