A FIVE–MAN gang, armed with axes and knives has unleashed a reign of terror in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb, breaking into three houses in two nights. Residents fear that the gang that paints their faces “a scary black” and is still at large, might strike again. They got away with US$200, cell phones, clothes and DVD players following their attacks on the three homes.

The break-ins, residents said, occurred last Sunday and on Thursday night. One of the victims, Ntombelanga Ngwenya, 31, said the burglars broke door handles to gain entry into her house last Sunday at around 2AM. She said they had locked the doors when they went to bed, but they were shocked to see five men inside their house.

“My husband and I were scared to death when we saw five men inside the house. They were carrying knives and axes,” said Ngwenya. “They demanded money from us and threatened to kill us. They hit my husband with a stick on the head when we told them we didn’t have money.

“They ransacked our bedroom and took US$200 that was inside a jacket.” Another resident, Wellington Hodzi, 23, said the gang gained entry into their house at around 1AM last Sunday and got away with a cell phone and a DVD player.

He said the painted faces and knives struck such terror into his heart that he ran away and locked himself in his bedroom, while the gang helped themselves to property. “Two men got into the house and I ran for my life and locked myself inside my bedroom. They took a Huawei phone, my two trousers and t-shirts. I saw three other men standing outside,” said Hodzi.

He said he tried to run after them as they went out but they turned on him, forcing him to run back into his bedroom. Another resident, Isaac Dube, 60, said on Thursday at around 4AM, thugs took his clothes and phone through a window and they later dumped the items near Mpopoma Park.

“I only found my window open and I found my clothes and my wife’s phone outside my yard. I suspected it was the same gang which had raided houses of my neighbours,” said Dube. Bulawayo police acting spokesperson Assistant Inspector Garikayi Chipfunde said investigations into the break-ins were underway.

“I can confirm that we received cases of robbery and unlawful entry that occurred in Mpopoma suburb where three houses were raided. We’re still investigating the cases,” said Ass Insp Chipfunde. Ward 9 councillor Charles Moyo said residents reported the incidents to him and he called a meeting to decide on measures to be taken.

“We had a meeting on Thursday with residents and the officer in charge of Western Commonage Police Station. “Police promised to assist us in getting rid of those thugs. We’ll also create neighbourhood watch patrols to assist police in night patrols. What’s happening in my ward is very bad,” said Moyo.

Last month, burglars gained entry at Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni Primary School and got away with $10 after they had targeted a registry sub-office. In October robbers broke into Bellevue Choppies and Richmond supermarkets and got away with more than $16,000 and $10,000 respectively.

In September robbers pounced on six schools and they got away with more than $4,000. In August police arrested three men suspected to be part of a gang behind the robberies.
by Patient Sibanda. Source: chronicle