Illegal gold buyer robbed of $3 000

AN illegal gold buyer was last week robbed of $3 000 by four unknown robbers who masqueraded as gold dealers.
The bogus gold dealers made good their escape with $3 037 from Phillip Zhangare and dumped him in Odzi where they had arranged for a meeting. Police confirmed the robbery and said a manhunt to bring the culprits to book has since been launched. 
Police said the quartet phoned Zhangare, an illegal gold buyer who was in Harare to come to Odzi to do the transaction. Zhangare agreed and met one of accused only known as Peter at Riverside Travel Lodge at around 6pm. Zhangare arrived at the scene and called his friend, Wonder Kaisa to come and witness the transaction. Peter arrived in the company of three unknown male adults driving a white Mazda 626 Sedan.
He disembarked from the vehicle and approached Zhangare and Kaisa. 
"They entered into Peter's car after they agreed to go to a secluded place to effect the transaction. On their way to the place, one of the four accused persons produced an identity card and told Zhangare that he was under arrest for engaging in illegal dealings. 
"He went on to produce a pistol and knife and told him that he was trained to kill. The driver made a U-turn and told Zhangare and Kaisa that he was driving to the Mutare Central Police Station. After travelling for about 3km, they stopped the car and ordered his other accomplices to thoroughly search Zhangare. Zhangare produced $1 450," said the Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Enock Chishiri.
He said that the suspects dumped Kaisa after they realised that he had no money.  
They drove away for 1km and further ordered Zhangare to produce more money.
They further searched him and took away another $1 550.