‘Matabeleland South cops hunt for a hitchhiker who stole 130 bibles and 250 church booklets from a pastor who had given him a lift in Beitbridge’.

POLICE in Matabeleland South have launched a manhunt for a hitchhiker who allegedly stole 130 bibles and 250 church booklets from a pastor who had given him a lift in Beitbridge.
 
In another incident in the province, a 49-year-old man armed with a sjambok was arrested after allegedly whipping a shopkeeper before robbing him of 11 packets of cigarettes and 71 boxes of matches in Fort Rixon.
 
Both incidents occurred on Wednesday.
 
In the first incident, a hitchhiker boarded a lift and asked to be dropped off somewhere in Gwanda. Later, the driver, Mr Daniel Shava of Revival Ministries International, realised that his luggage was missing.
 
Confirming the incident, Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said: “Members of the public must avoid giving living lifts to strangers or hiring unlabelled pirate taxis especially at night to avoid being robbed and endangering their lives.”
 
In Fort Rixon, Mr Mthokozisi Ncube (20) – a shop attendant at Sizanani Store at Mbembesi Business Centre – fled after Rootsman Milly “mercilessly” flogged him with the sjambok.
 
A source said Milly arrived at the store at around 9AM and went behind the counter without Mr Ncube’s permission, where he grabbed a packet of cigarettes and matches.
 
When Mr Ncube demanded payment, the source said, Milly produced a sjambok and thoroughly beat him up.
 
“Ncube ran out of the store leaving Milly, who quickly grabbed 4X20 Kingsgate packets, 2×20 Madison packets, 5×20 packets of Pacific and 71 boxes of matches. He dashed out of the shop and ran away,” said the source who preferred anonymity.
 
Insp Ndebele confirmed the robbery.
 
“The suspect who committed armed robbery was identified and arrested. He will appear in court soon,” he said.
 
Last month, a man from Filabusi was allegedly robbed of $100 and groceries at knife point by a pirate taxi driver and his accomplice.
 
The man had hired the pirate taxi, a green Peugeot, when one of the suspects, who was also a passenger in the vehicle, allegedly robbed the man.
 
Another a hitch-hiker from Beitbridge was robbed of $950 and a cell phone at knife point by a pirate taxi driver and his accomplice. Whinsley Masara, Chronicle

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