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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter

TWO Bulawayo men were on Sunday robbed of cash and valuables worth more than $5 000 by Honda Fit crews as the city records more such cases.

In the first incident, four suspects who were driving a silver-grey Honda Fit picked up Mr Meki Katiyo (33) of Lobengula West suburb along Siyepambili Drive before robbing him of cash and property worth $4 300.

Another Honda Fit crew pounced on a soldier, Silence Chirima (33), along Luveve Road and got away with cash and valuables worth $1 000.

Bulawayo acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the two incidents.

“In the first incident the four suspects were aboard an unregistered silver Honda Fit car driving along Siyephambili Drive before giving a lift to the complainant aged 33 who was headed home in Lobengula West. Along the way, the driver diverted from his route claiming that he wanted to leave one of the passengers elsewhere. The driver stopped the car near the Zupco Depot in Kelvin North before other passengers produced knives and told the complainant that he had boarded a wrong vehicle,” said Asst Insp Msebele.

She said the suspects ordered Mr Katiyo to surrender all his belongings to them.

“Their victim surrendered two cellphones, a Huawei P8 and a Samsung Galaxy S8, a satchel with clothes and US$100. As a result he lost cash and property worth $4 375,” she said.

Asst Insp Msebele said in the second incident, a crew of four pretended to be passengers in a Honda Fit vehicle before robbing Mr Chirima who was on his way home in Gwabalanda suburb.

She said upon reaching Mtshobana suburb, the driver stopped the car and started assaulting the complainant demanding that he surrenders all his possessions.

“In the process he lost cash and valuables amounting to $1 007,” Asst Insp Msebele said. 

She urged residents to avoid boarding Honda Fit vehicles among other unregistered taxis as this exposes them to criminals.

“We are continuously recording crimes involving unregistered pirate taxis. We want to warn the public that they should stop boarding these cars as some of them are involved in serious crimes. We are not just recording robbery but assault and rape cases as well. Hence we appeal to residents to avoid putting their lives at risk. We therefore appeal to residents to heed our calls against boarding these unregistered cars,” said Asst Insp Msebele. —@nqotshili