SIX suspected armed robbers stormed former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Choppies Kholisane Supermarket in Pumula South, Bulawayo and got away with $500 cash after robbing customers and shop workers at gunpoint.
BY ALEXIS SIBANDA
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the public to assist with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
“We have received a report of robbery in Pumula and investigations are still on going. We are appealing to the public for information that can lead to the arrest of the criminals. Members of the public can report people who might be known to have guns, so that we can check if the gun is licensed or not,” she said.
“We are also appealing to the shopkeepers not to keep too much money in their shops to avoid such losses.”
The shop manager, Bornface Nyambe, said they were shocked by the incident.
“It was business as usual and at around 7:30pm, we heard a gunshot. At first, I thought it was an electrical cable fault. I heard another gunshot, then a voice came from outside saying, lie down, lie down, and both staff and customers followed the instruction,” he said.
Nyambe said five of the robbers were already in the shop posing as customers.
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“The five robbers emptied all the money from the tills. One of the armed robbers came to me and started quizzing me on where we kept the rest of the money, but I was lucky because the one who stood guard outside told them that they had to go.”
He said the robbers were so brazen that they did not even wear masks.
One of the customers, whose car was shot at, said the incident was frightening.
“I was coming out of the shop going, where I had parked my car and then along the way, I opened my phone to check my wallet balance. That is when the gunman started shooting.
“I thought something had exploded, but when I got into my car, I saw that they were robbers, as they fired a second shot. He then pointed the gun at me. I think he thought I had called the police. He then shot at my car and I think the bullet is still lodged inside,” she said.
