Robbers hold baby as ransom; loot $700 from Gutu businessman

A group of robbers who are still at large broke into a shop at Chinanaira Business Center in Nyazvidzi Gutu, assaulted the owner who they left for dead before escaping with goods worth $700.

Earlier the robbers threatened to kidnap a small baby unless they were given money.

Claudius Mamutse told The Mirror that the robbers broke into the shop where his wife Sharai Gozhi was sleeping in another room with the children while he was sleeping in the shop and the incident happened at around midnight.

Mamutse sustained serious head injuries including getting part of his ear chopped off.

Efforts to get a comment from the Police were fruitless.
"It was around midnight and I heard someone opening the back door and I thought it was my daughter going to the toilet. However, lights from torches were suddenly flashing in my face and the intruders started attacking me.

"I never saw what weapons they were using but they were sharp objects that my left my ear chopped off. They tied my hands and legs and took all the money which was $103 while others were collecting goods from the shop worth $700", he said.

The robbers also beat up his wife and daughter.
"They demanded money and said they were going to take our baby if we refused to give them what they wanted," added Mamutse.