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• Cornered gunman opens fire

• Villagers administer mob justice

 Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A HIGHWAY robber shot and wounded five villagers on Thursday evening after they cornered him as he fled from police near Beitbridge.

Michael Mhangami had earlier robbed a couple along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway.

Police say Mhangami was boxed in by five villagers in Matshiloni as he fled from pursuing police officers who had been called after he robbed a couple at a lay-bye near Tshapfuche.

The brave villagers are being treated at Beitbridge District Hospital where the robber is also hospitalised under police guard after angry locals administered mob justice on him.

Sergeant Thabani Mkwanazi of Matabeleland South Police said: “Initial investigations reveal that the suspect and three others who are still at large pounced on a couple at the 248km peg along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road at a lay-bye. They grabbed from the couple cellphones and an assortment of electrical gadgets and disappeared into the bush at around mid-day.

“Police were called and Mhangami was later spotted by a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee loitering along the same road. The NWC member became suspicious and tried to confront him but he ran away into the bush.”

He said the neighbourhood watch member then teamed up with police officers to hunt down Mhangami. Villagers later joined in the search.

“When the accused realised that he had been cornered, he opened fire from his 12-gauge Shotgun. The pellets from the gun wounded five of the villagers in the legs. He was finally subdued by an angry mob.”

Mhangami sustained head injuries from the assault.

Sgt Mkwanazi said the injured were in a stable condition and are expected to make a full recovery.

He said police had recovered a Shotgun and several stolen items including cellphones, cameras and R2,500 in cash.

Sgt Mkwanazi said they were still pursing the other members of the gang. He commended locals who assisted in apprehending Mhangami.

“We’re calling on motorists to avoid using lay-byes which have become crime hotspots. Though we’re constantly patrolling around the troubled areas, we’re urging them to make use of business centres when they want to rest,” he added.