Man (53) assaulted, robbed of $1 100, clothes

A 53-YEAR-OLD foreign motorist was attacked and robbed of $1 100, a cellphone and a suitcase containing his clothes by three unknown suspects at a lay-by along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road, police said.

The acting provincial police spokesperson for Matabeleland South, Sergeant Nkosilathi Sibanda said the incident occurred on Thursday at around 6pm at the 180km peg.

"The victim, a foreign motorist, was driving a South Africa-registered motor vehicle coming from South Africa and heading towards Bulawayo.

"On approaching the 180km peg, he stopped and parked his vehicle at a lay-by during which three men who were armed with an iron bar and knives descended on him," he said.

The three suspects confronted the victim before dragging him to a nearby bushy area, a few metres away from the highway, where they assaulted him and he sustained bruises all over his body.

"Soon after attacking the victim, the three suspects robbed him of money, a cellphone and a suitcase containing his clothes and fled the scene," Sgt Sibanda said.

The motorist managed to proceed with his journey and reported the matter at a nearby police station.

"Our officers went to the scene and tried to track the suspects, but they only recovered a pair of shoes belonging to the victim dumped near the scene of the incident. We have since launched a manhunt for the suspects and we are also appealing to anyone with information that could lead to their arrest to contact any nearest police station," said the police spokesperson.

He also urged motorists to desist from parking in secluded places as they risked being mugged by robbers operating in bushy areas along the major highways.

Of late there has been an increase in the number of motorists who have been attacked and robbed of their valuables by organised robbery syndicates operating along the country's major roads. The suspects mainly target motorists at lay-bys.