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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ARMED robbers allegedly ambushed a cash-in-transit vehicle belonging to Fawcett Security near Connemara about 40km from Gweru along the Gweru-Kwekwe highway and got away with US$334 290 cash and two pistols.

The armed robbers donning police uniforms had mounted a fake roadblock at the 234km peg along Harare-Bulawayo Road on Thursday before allegedly waving down the cash-in-transit vehicle which was on its way from Bulawayo heading for Harare.

National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

He said the complainants are Langelihle Moyo (42) who was the crew commander, Bongani Mapfumo (29) the driver, Emmanuel Nhamo (47) the gunman and Thomas Chisambadzi (49) the trunk carrier all from Bulawayo.
The four are Fawcett Security guards based in Bulawayo working in the Cash-in-transit section.

“On November 25 at around 0530AM, the complainants left Bulawayo for Harare to deliver cash to to a local bank, Harare branch. They were using a Fawcett Security motor vehicle, an Isuzu KB250 navy blue in colour, which was being driven by Mapfumo,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the truck had two small trunks containing US$33 000 and US$261 290.

He said when they arrived in Gweru, they collected another trunk from their company containing between US$30 000 and US$40 000.

“They proceeded to Harare. When they arrived at the 243km peg, they were waved to stop by two accused persons who were in police uniform. One of them was putting on police traffic sleeves and a bib. Amongst the two were four other accused who were in civilian attire,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said Mapfumo allegedly slowed down and stopped.

Asst Comm Nyathi said one of the accused persons who was in civilian attire allegedly produced an AK47 rifle and proceeded to Moyo while another accused person in civilian attire produced a pistol and went to Mapfumo.

“They poked the two complainants in the face and pulled them out of the vehicle. Moyo was assaulted and tied both hands with a string. He was also disarmed of his service pistol a CZ serial number unknown with six live rounds.

“Mapfumo and Moyo were taken to the back of the truck where Nhamo and Chisambadzi were forced to open the door. The accused broke the door of the vehicle using a shifting spanner and forced it to open,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said Nhamo was allegedly disarmed of his firearm, an Escort E256.

He said all the complainants were then loaded at the back of the vehicle under the guard of one of the accused who had an AK 47 rifle.

“One of the accused took control of the steering and drove some few metres towards Kwekwe and turned right into a dust road. After about 1 km, the accused stopped and used a metal object to break the locks of the trunks. They offloaded all the money into their black bag. They also took complainant cellphones,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the accused persons then left the complainants and drove away in their gate away car which was not noticed by the complainants.

“After about 30 minutes, the complainants managed to free themselves and searched the area where they had been dumped and managed to recover the Escort E256 rifle with its 10 live rounds and a cellphone belonging to Nhamo which had been dropped and used it to call Fawcett Bulawayo.

“A report was then made to the police. Total value stolen is US$334 290 and nothing was recovered,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The complainants are assisting police with investigations.