A MINE worker was shot dead while several others were
injured when about 10 robbers armed with a gun and machetes went on the rampage
attacking people in Maphisa, Matobo District on Thursday night.
The armed robbers who targeted a mining compound and shops,
randomly fired shots.
Corgen Moyo (42) who was employed at Antelope Milling
Stamp, died on the spot after the armed robbers shot him while forcing their
way into his room at the mine compound.
After raiding and shooting Moyo dead, the robbers moved to
Falcon Complex, about a kilometre away, where Zanu-PF district offices are also
housed and attacked workers at the shops.
There, the armed robbers also randomly fired shots and got
away with R4 000 and US$80.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the areas that were
subjected to terror.
There was a sombre atmosphere as people were still trying
to come to terms with what had befallen them the previous night.
By 2PM yesterday, Moyo’s body was still to be removed from
the scene as police at the scene were waiting for the Criminal Investigations
Department (CID) detectives from Gwanda.
Maphisa is 84km from Gwanda. Late Corgen Moyo’s father Nathaniel (right) and relatives
at the scene
The victims revealed how the armed robbers randomly fired
at people while attacking some with machetes.
“These people arrived just before midnight and it’s not
like we had gone to bed. Some of us were still killing time at a fire place.
They invaded the compound carrying a gun that we suspect was an AK47. They were
also armed with machetes and started shooting at random. Some of us managed to
escape as we were outside,” said one of the survivors.
Moyo’s brother, Mr Forget Moyo said he witnessed his
sibling’s killing as they were together in their room when the armed robbers
pounced on them.
“I was preparing to go to bed and my brother was already
asleep. I heard noises coming from outside and a few minutes later someone was
at our door. I tried to push the door to prevent them from entering but they
overpowered me. They had already fired a shot and the bullet went through the
door. When they entered the room I bolted out and by then I had not realised
that the bullet had hit my sleeping brother,” said Forget.
He said he was later to learn that his brother had been
shot dead.
Their father, Mr Nathaniel Moyo, who was among other family
members that had arrived at the mine compound, said he received a call at about
midnight from one of his sons alerting him that Corgen had been killed.
“When I arrived here, I requested to see my son and the
police officer allowed me to enter the room. Indeed, he was dead, a bullet went
through his forehead and exited through the back of his head. We are now
waiting for the police to complete their investigations so that we can also do
what we have to do. But we are concerned that police have taken too long to
start investigations.
“The body should have been taken to a mortuary by now but
it’s still stuck in the room as we wait for detectives. We are worried that his
body will end up decomposing,” said Mr Moyo.
He said the armed robbers had robbed him of his son who
left behind a wife and four children, one of them still breastfeeding.
Antelope 12 Milling Stamp manager Mr Taurai Vengesai said
everyone at the mine compound was now living in fear following the raid by the
robbers.
“We are all terrified by this attack on innocent people who
were going about their business. How safe are we in mining areas when armed
robbers can just pounce on us any time? We have been told that they also raided
the Complex where they attacked several people and got away with cash,” said Mr
Vengesai.
He said police should swiftly react to reports of armed
robberies. “From the time we reported to the police that we had been
raided, police officers should have rounded the suspects at the complex.
“Those guys were walking about but police took their time
to arrive at the scene and the robbers eventually disappeared.
“We are told that two days back, armed robbers also raided
Hakuna shops, 10km from Maphisa Centre.
“The investigating CID officers are yet to arrive at the
scene. Maybe if they had swiftly attended the matter, we wouldn’t be in this
situation,” he said.
Mr Vengesai said his company had to provide fuel to enable
police officers to attend to the robbery scene.
At Falcon Complex, some victims said shots were also
randomly fired as the robbers made their way into several shops. They attacked three women, some with machetes demanding
money.
One of the victims, Miss Elizabeth Moyo said the armed
robbers used the machete to hit her after she declined to reveal where she kept
the money.
“Fearing for my life I revealed where the money was and
they got away with R4 000 and US$80,” said Miss Moyo.
Another shop attendant Miss Mongiwa Moyo said she was treated
at Maphisa District Hospital after the savage attack.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi said they were investigating the case. He said the victim was shot twice
on the left eye and right shoulder and
he died on the spot. Herald
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