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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
ROBBERS have pounced on an Early Childhood Centre in Bulawayo’s Pumula East suburb, amid claims that seven similar centres have been targeted in the last two months in the Western suburbs.

Bulawayo provincial acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

“Robbers broke into the ECD centre and got away with groceries and property. Investigations are still underway,” he said, adding that he could not immediately comment on the other alleged robberies at some centres.

A staff member at Pumula East Early Childhood Centre who spoke on condition of anonymity said from the shoe prints they found, they suspect that about four men committed the crime.

He said groceries and property worth about $1 000 was stolen.

“They took away a television set, a DVD, a refrigerator with all the food stuffs that were inside, an electric stove, a gas stove, including the cylinder and all groceries that were stored in the storeroom,” the staff member said.

A source who preferred anonymity said the robbers cut the premise’s perimeter fence and then broke locks on three doors.

“We have heard that this pre-school is the seventh one to be robbed within the past two months and we are suspecting that one team could be behind all these robberies which have occurred in Pre-schools in the Western suburbs”

They also broke windows to access other rooms. Miss Talent Moyo, a teacher at the school, said they had nowhere to start.

“We are just seated today with nowhere to start because children need to be fed to gain their attention in learning. The new curriculum also demands that we have the entertainment gadgets which were stolen.

“It is the second time we have been robbed but last time it wasn’t this serious. This time they looted and emptied everything, taking even opened groceries, leaving containers on the floor,” she said.

Miss Moyo said two weeks ago, robbers stole at a Pre-school in Pumula South, and before that robbers targeted another one in Gwabalanda suburb.

“We have heard that this pre-school is the seventh one to be robbed within the past two months and we are suspecting that one team could be behind all these robberies which have occurred in pre-schools in the Western suburbs,” said Miss Moyo.

Another teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said neighbours close to the centre said they heard people who had arrived in the area in a vehicle talking for quiet sometime at around 3AM.

“We are appealing to well- wishers to assist us with what they can to sustain the children for the two weeks which are left to closing day,” said the teacher.

— @winnie_masara