MIDWEEK REPORTER
RUSAPE-Three farmers from Headlands and Inyathi in Rusape lost tobacco worth US$17 110 to robbers armed with stones, knobkerries and machetes at Mbuya Tandi’s Farm on their way to the market.
Cloud Nyamano (33) of Village 40A, Winfielder Tanavapi (65) of Village 7, Nyamukamani all of Inyathi and Bethel Co-operative chairman, Zvenyika Mungoriyo (40) of Plot 14 of Headlands and employed by Sub Saharan Tobacco Company were taking their tobacco bales to the market when they fell victim to the robbery.
On April 7 at around 2:30am Blessing Mutyakuwa (24) of Village 40 D, Chiropa in Inyathi was driving a Ford Iveco with the three farmers on board to Sub Saharan Tobacco Auction Floor in Rusape when they found the road barricaded with boulders at Mbuya Tandi Farm.
As the driver disembarked to remove the big stones for safe passage, suddenly five unknown male adults wearing balaclavas appeared from the bush armed with machetes, stones and knobkerries and started attacking the four.
Nyamano ran into the bush as stones were raining on him from the robbers, but he managed disappear into the darkness.
The three were attacked by the five robbers with sticks and stones and they tied their hands and legs using shoelaces and drove off with the truck towards Rusape Town.
Nyamano managed to call the police while hiding in the bush.
Rusape Rural Police attended the scene and the three were untied but the tobacco and the vehicle were not recovered.
The injured were taken to Rusape General Hospital where they were treated and discharged including the driver who lost two front teeth in the attack.
Manicaland Province police acting spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said they are appealing to members of the public who might have information about the robbers to come forward and make a report so that the cheeky robbers can be accounted for.
