TAWANDA HOMBA
MASVINGO-The biggest bus operator in the country, Mukumba Brothers lost US$13 384 and ZAR13 450 (US$1 000) to armed robbers yesterday at around 2am, The Midweek Watch can exclusively reveal.
Five armed robbers pounced on Mukumba Brothers garage in the industrial area and got away with the cash after forcing neighbouring guards to assist them in their mission.
Mukumba Brothers Masvingo depot manager, Cephas Machada told this publication that a security guard called him at 1:20am telling him about the armed robbers and immediately he called the Police.
Masvingo Police Provincial spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he has not received the report, but will only provide the details as soon as he gets them.
Machada said two Police officers with a vehicle arrived at the scene while the robbers were still there, but retreated back for reinforcements, unfortunately when they came back the armed robbers had made good their escape plus the cash.
“One of our security guards, Fred Martin called me at 1:20am telling me about the armed robbers and I immediately informed the Police who arrived at the scene, but went back for reinforcements, unfortunately when they came the robbers had disappeared into the night,” said a visibly shaken Machada.
One of the drivers, who had tried to escape after seeing the robbers jumping in the yard was injured by the vicious armed robbers and tied him with shoelaces.
“The robbers went to Quality Gas Garage next door and tied up one of the guards, Knowledge and someone who had come from Harare to do some work there and drove his MPV vehicle here (at Mukumba garage) after threatening to kill them with a gun.
“They told them that they were on a mission and their job was to assist them to accomplish it, they asked for names of the our security guards. When they arrived at the gate they shouted that Fred and Misheck should open the gate because they were Police officers who had come to arrest them for theft of diesel.
“Fred shouted back for their identification, but they didn’t waste time as they quickly jumped the gate and threatened to shoot anyone who resisted their orders.
“Fred managed to hide in one of the buses after getting in through the window and that is when he called me for assistance,” said Machada.
The robbers broke every door at the premises and stole four envelopes containing driver’s salaries and they forced open the main safe where they took the cash and disappeared into the night.
When The Midweek Watch crew visited the premises, it resembled a funeral mass as all workers were looking tired and unable to explain what happened.
Most of them were just thanking God that they are still alive. The injured driver was taken to hospital yesterday for treatment.
