Three men were hospitalised with severe injuries after being attacked with machetes in separate incidents in Emakhandeni, Bulawayo, on Wednesday evening.
According to Bulawayo police, a gang of machete-wielding criminals terrorised residents, robbing their victims of a total of US$570 and three cellphones.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Bulawayo, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed that the first attack occurred at around 6:45 PM on May 28, when a 52-year-old Emakhandeni resident was walking home from Tsholotsho Rank along Masiyepambili Drive. She said:
The robbers first ambushed a 52-year-old man, striking him on the head with a machete and stealing a Huawei Y9 cellphone, US$20, and a wallet.
Less than an hour later, the same assailants attacked a second victim, aged 40, along a footpath near Apollo.
The robbers attempted to strike him on the head, but he blocked the blow and sustained injuries to both hands.
They fled with his Huawei P8 Lite cellphone, US$70, and clothing items, including a red hoodie and black tennis shoes worth a combined US$200.
The gang’s third victim was a 38-year-old man from Gwabalanda. He was struck three times on the head with a machete and once on the forehead with a hammer.
The suspects took his Samsung J4 Core cellphone, US$100, and a yellow satchel containing clothes.
Despite their injuries, all three victims managed to make their way to Apollo Shopping Centre in Emakhandeni, where help was finally on hand. An ambulance was called, and they were rushed to Mpilo Hospital for treatment. Added Inspector Msebele:
The total value of property stolen during the three incidents amounts to US$570. Nothing has been recovered so far.
We appeal to members of the public to avoid using secluded paths and roads, especially during the night, to prevent such incidents.
Police are calling on anyone with information that could help track down the suspects to come forward and report it.
More: ZimLive
This is troubling. We can not go on with this type of people among us,better to eliminate them.