Fidelis Chavarike
Post Reporter
FIVE unknown armed robbers attacked a tobacco delivery truck along the Rusape-Ruura Road, and made off with 41 bales worth at least US$17 010 that were being transported to Sub-Sahara Auction Floors in Rusape.
The incident, which has sent chills down the spines of tobacco farmers, occurred on April 7 around 2am when the truck that was being driven by Mr Blessing Mutyakureva (24) was transporting the consignment.
The robbers blocked the road with large stones and logs and when the truck crew stopped to remove the barricades the five assailants emerged from the bushes, armed with knobkerries and machetes, and smashed the front windshield of the truck.
Mr Mutyakureva was heavily assaulted and sustained serious injuries, including losing two front teeth and a deep cut below the right eye, while his three colleagues aboard the truck suffered swollen ankles and also complained of back pain.
They were admitted at Rusape General Hospital before being discharged.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, adding that the five unknown suspects disappeared with both the truck and its cargo.
“The robbery occurred on April 7 at around 2am when the truck that was being driven by 24-year-old Blessing Mutyakureva was transporting 41 bales of tobacco to Sub-Sahara Tobacco Auction Floors in Rusape was robbed upon reaching Mbuya Tandi Farm along the Rusape- Ruura Road.
“Information at hand indicates that the road was detoured with four large stones and when Mr Mutyakureva stopped to remove the boulders, five men wearing balaclavas and armed with knobkerries and machetes emerged from the bushes. They broke the front windshield of the truck,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He said Mr Mutyakureva was brutally attacked with stones on the face, right arm, and shoulder, while the other passengers aboard – Messrs Cloud Nyamano (33), Winfield Tanavapi (45) and Zvenyika Mungoriyo (40), the chairman of Sub-Sahara cluster, were ordered to disembark from the truck.
Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said after complying, Mr Mungoriyo, who was the first to disembark from the truck, took to his heels and vanished into the darkness.
The assailants followed him hot pursuit, pelting him with stones.
However, they could not apprehend him.
“Mr Mungoriyo managed to escape and fled into the bushes, but the robbers threw stones at him, striking him on the back and ankles. The remaining three victims were tied up with shoelaces. Mr Mutyakureva and Mr Nyamano’s cellphones were confiscated, and the assailants drove the truck towards Rusape. The suspects left the victims lying helplessly on the road,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Mr Mungoriyo, who had managed to escaped, called the police at ZRP Inyati, whose officers attended the scene.
“Mr Mutyakureva sustained serious injuries, including a wound below the right eye. He also lost two front teeth due to the brutal assault. Mr Mungoriyo suffered swollen ankles and complained of back pain. Both were admitted at Rusape General Hospital, before being discharged a day later. Goods stolen were valued at US$17 010, and no recoveries have been made so far,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He said investigations are in progress, and appealed to those with information about the robbery to contact their nearest police station.
“The police are still investigation the case, and would like to urge members of the public with information or any related details that could lead to the arrest of the five fugitives to contact their nearest police station,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
The incident comes on the heels of an appeal by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) for tobacco growers to jealously guard their bales by using transporters registered by the board to minimise theft of their produce.
TIMB said when growers use registered transporters, they will not encounter 100 percent losses as the trucks have goods in transit insurance.
The appeal follows reports of unsuspecting tobacco farmers losing their bales to robbers posing as transporters.
