Taxi driver robbed of car in machete attack

A TAXI driver from Bulawayo is lucky to be alive after two machete-wielding robbers slashed his hand, narrowly missing his head, during a carjacking incident on Monday night.

The robbers, who are still at large, got away with a Honda Fit vehicle, a cellphone and $2.

Mr Christopher Nsingo (65) of Lobengula West suburb told The Chronicle that two men hired him from the city centre to Kumalo suburb.

He said the duo attacked him in Kumalo suburb, searched him, took away his belongings and sped off in his car.

The incident occurred at around 9PM along Windsor Avenue.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango yesterday said investigations into the robbery were in progress.

"We're investigating a case of robbery which occurred in Kumalo suburb on Monday night. Two unidentified men produced a machete, attacked and robbed a 65-year-old man of his motor vehicle. The victim sustained an injury during the scuffle.

"The suspects went away with the vehicle and are still at large. Investigations are underway," she said.

Mr Nsingo said he was lucky to be alive as one of his attackers had aimed for his head with the machete.

"I am lucky and I thank God that I'm still alive because one of the robbers was ruthless and wanted to finish me off. He missed my head during the scuffle and his accomplice had to plead with him to have mercy on me because of my age. The two men approached me while I was parked in front of Haefelis. We went to Kumalo and they instructed me to stop at a house Windsor Avenue."

Mr Nsingo said one of the men disembarked and left the door open.

"The other one who sat right behind me ordered me to make a U-turn and face the direction we had come from. I realised that the one who was out of the car hadn't gone inside the house. He actually stood in the dark, away from the gate," he said.

Mr Nsingo said he became suspicious and at that very moment, the passenger seated behind him tried to garrot him with a piece of string.

"Luckily, I moved and the string landed on my mouth instead of my neck. As I wrestled with the guy, his accomplice grabbed the car keys from the ignition and jumped into the car. He was armed with a machete," he said.

"He lashed at my head but I moved and he missed. He hit me on the arm and injured my fingers. They overpowered me and dragged me out of the car where they stripped me of my jersey, shoes and belt."

Mr Nsingo said the duo used his shoe laces and belt to hogtie him.

"They took my cellphone and $2," he said.

Mr Nsingo said a man emerged from the house in front of which he had stopped the car and asked the pair what they were doing.

"They lied that they looking for a sim card which they had misplaced in the car. The man proceeded into the house" he said.

Mr Nsingo said the duo sped off in his car leaving him trussed up on the ground.

He said he managed to untie himself and people at the house assisted him to call the police.

Mr Nsingo's employer, Mr Tendai Masuku (32) of Mzilikazi suburb, appealed for information from members of the public that might lead to the recovery of the blue Honda Fit registration number ADL 7905.

He said it had a dent on its back on the right side and was repainted on the patch with a dull blue colour.