Don’t Resist Armed Robbers, Police Warn After Bulawayo Man Is Shot

Police have warned members of the public not to resist when confronted by armed criminals, saying doing so can be deadly.

The warning follows an incident in which a 33-year-old man from Pelandaba West in Bulawayo was shot several times while trying to fight off armed robbers at his home. He is now in a critical condition in the hospital.

The attack happened in the early hours of Thursday morning after the man confronted a gang that had broken into his house.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the incident occurred at around 2:35 am on 29 January.

Police are investigating the case as attempted murder and armed robbery.

Msebele said the victim was woken by the sound of metal being cut. When he went to check, he found two men using a bolt cutter to break the security bars on his kitchen window.

The suspects then forced their way into the house, leading to a violent confrontation in which the man was shot. Said Msebele:

“The complainant wrestled with an accused person who was holding a pistol. This resulted in the accused shooting him in the inner thigh, his back, his arm, and his hand.”

The attackers fled shortly after the shots were fired, and it is not yet clear whether any property was stolen.

The victim remains in a local hospital in a serious condition.

Police have launched a manhunt for the two suspects and are appealing to the public for information that may lead to their arrest.