Masvingo is reeling from yet another brazen armed robbery, this time targeting a money transfer outlet in Ngundu. On Monday, 25 November 2024, four armed men made off with a substantial sum of money – US$46 349 and R924 100 – leaving authorities scrambling to apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident unfolded as an employee of the money transfer shop was heading home after finishing his shift. According to police statements from both Masvingo provincial police and National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the robbers, armed with pistols, confronted the teller.
Commissioner Nyathi confirmed the incident, stating: “Police in Masvingo are investigating circumstances surrounding a case of robbery which occurred on November 25, 2024, at a money transfer outlet in Ngundu.
“Four male suspects who were wielding pistols confronted a teller who works at the money transfer shop. The teller was on his way home after he had finished work. The suspects forced him to go back to the outlet and compelled him to open the safe before stealing US$46 349 cash and R 924 100. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station.”
The police account details how the robbers, after confronting the teller, forced him back to the outlet at gunpoint. There, they ordered him to open the safe, gaining access to the substantial cash reserves. Following the theft, the robbers swiftly disappeared, leaving the teller unharmed but shaken.
A police statement from Masvingo provincial police corroborated this account, stating: “Four male suspects who were wielding pistols confronted a teller who works at the money transfer shop. The teller was on his way home after he had finished work.” They continued, explaining that the suspects “frog-matched the teller to the outlet where they ordered him to open a safe before taking US$46 349 and R924 100.”
This incident is unfortunately not an isolated case. Robberies targeting banks and money transfer businesses are on the rise across Zimbabwe. The increasing reliance on US dollar cash transactions has created a lucrative target for criminals. The boldness and frequency of these attacks are escalating, with violent assaults on cash-in-transit vehicles, commercial properties, and even private homes becoming increasingly common.
Recent high-profile incidents highlight the severity of the problem. For instance, a gang of six recently stole US$4 million from an Ecobank branch in Bulawayo. In another disturbing incident, a family in Cowdray Park suffered a violent home invasion, resulting in the loss of over US$25,000. These incidents underscore the escalating threat and the need for enhanced security measures.
The police are appealing to the public for assistance in apprehending the suspects involved in the Ngundu robbery. They urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to report it to the nearest police station. This information, they stress, is crucial to bringing the perpetrators to justice and deterring future crimes. The police’s call for public assistance highlights the critical role communities play in combating this growing wave of crime.
