Zimpapers Logo

Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter—
A GANG of seven armed robbers raided Luveve High school in Bulawayo where they allegedly raped two teachers and a 19-year-old woman before stealing household goods at the staff compound. Police were called to the scene and sniffer dogs helped to track down the armed robbers. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango could not immediately comment on the incident which happened on Saturday night.

The Chronicle yesterday visited the school that also has boarding facilities. A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gang arrived at the school and found a car parked just outside the gate at around 10 PM.

A woman —the daughter of a staff member at the school and her boyfriend —were inside the car. “They knocked on the windows demanding that the couple open the doors. As soon as they opened the doors, one of the robbers raped the woman.

“The robbers force marched the couple to the school’s administration block where they demanded to be shown the safe and hoped to get some cash. But they couldn’t access the safe as it was locked,” said the teacher.

After they failed to access the safe, the source said, they force-marched the woman around the school compound asking her to direct them to where the safe’s keys could be found.

“She led the robbers to one of the teachers’ houses where they failed to find the keys. They rummaged through the house looking for the keys before they took some household appliances and raped the teacher,” said the teacher.

The gang allegedly went to the next house and raped another teacher before stealing more household goods. “They loaded the loot into the car belonging to the woman’s boyfriend and drove away from the premises.

“Fearing that the car would be tracked, the robbers dumped it in a nearby bush before fleeing on foot only to be caught a few hours later through the help of sniffer dogs,” said the teacher.

The woman’s father, who lives at the school, declined to comment. However, a source said police with sniffer dogs caught up with the armed robbers later and they were arrested. The armed robbers were allegedly taken to Luveve police station.

Sources said the matter was now being handled by CID homicide. A person who answered Bulawayo provincial education director Dan Moyo’s mobile phone said he would be available for comment today.