IN a typical case of instant justice, two criminals who had
robbed some farmers of five bales of tobacco at gunpoint in Harare, died on the
spot after their getaway vehicle collided with another car, a few minutes
later.
Three others were seriously injured. The accident occurred
at the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Rekai Tangwena Street as the
gang was making good its escape.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the incident on Tuesday and said the farmers were travelling
in a Toyota Canter truck.
The robbers blocked the farmers’ vehicle using a Toyota
Passo before robbing them of the tobacco. The loot was loaded in a bigger truck before the robbers
sped off.
“A Toyota Passo (registration number AEJ 6679) firstly
obstructed the Toyota Canter which was carrying tobacco bales,” said Asst Comm
Nyathi. “The accused persons then cut the rope which was securing the bales and
five bales were loaded into the accused persons’ vehicle.
“An alert motorist who was following behind alerted the
farmers. They then pursued the accused persons who made a U-turn and sped off.”
The robbers’ vehicle was hit by a Toyota Wish after they
drove through a red robot at the robot-controlled intersection.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the deceased robbers have been
identified as Nomatter Chitohwe and Charles Fredrick Mushanhi.
Early this month, police warned tobacco farmers against
transporting their bales at night as they were being targeted by robbers,
especially in Harare.
The police have been receiving reports of tobacco farmers
that are being robbed by criminals at gunpoint while on their way to the
auction floors during the night and early hours of the morning.
Police said they were concerned about the rise in such
cases.
In one of the incidents, a farmer lost two tobacco bales to
three armed robbers after an Isuzu truck they were travelling in was blocked by
an unregistered Toyota Noah last week.
The incident occurred at around 2am, while the farmer was
on his way to Tobacco Sales Floors in Willowvale.
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