GWERU — Police have launched a manhunt for 11 suspected rogue soldiers who allegedly raided Zijena Mine near the city and robbed the employees of gold ore, $300 in cash and cellphones on Christmas Eve.
According to police detectives handling the matter, the suspects clad in army uniform stormed the mine and ordered the six employees to load gold ore into their unmarked truck before robbing them of cash and cellphones.
The suspects then drove off. The six mine workers, who have since reported the matter to the police include Denis
Zigeregwe (38), Hilton Shoko (29), brothers Gadzikai (38), Tafungwanashe (32) and Timukudze Mudzingwa (22) and Calvin Shoko (25), were then ordered to get into the mine shaft before the robbers made good their escape.
“They were ordered to get into the mine shaft at round 1am and only got out of the shaft at about 3.30am after they felt that their lives were now safe,” said a police detective who declined to be named.
He said the six then reported the matter at Gweru Rural Police Station on Christmas Day.
“A docket under the robbery case number RRB 1278336 has been opened against the 11 suspects and investigations into the case are underway,” he said.
Police said the latest raid by alleged members of the uniformed forces came after another Gweru man, Benjamini Madiba, was robbed of $1 000 near 6 Maintenance Unit in the city centre by two suspected soldiers during the same night.
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Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana could not comment over the two incidents, referring questions to army spokesperson Colonel Alphois Makotore.
Contacted for comment, Makotore said: “It’s unfortunate that I am not in the office.
“I am driving from my rural home where I had gone for the holidays. I will try to get back to you when I get into the office.”
