Municipal cop robbed, assaulted on way to work

VICTORIA Falls police are hunting for a man who allegedly robbed a municipal police officer after assaulting and dumping her in a drainage hole while on her way to work last week.

The suspected thief is said to have assaulted Nokuthula Sibanda (35) of Mkhosana high-density suburb along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo Highway before stealing her handbag carrying identification documents and some money.

The attacker used beer bottles and clenched fists to assault his victim.

The resort town's chamber secretary Kholwani Mangena confirmed the development and said the assailant stole Sibanda's $150 in bond notes and $40 in United States dollar notes as well as her mobile phone and house keys.

"The attacker punched her for more than an hour all over her body and pulled her through the drainage canal, threatening to kill her. He continued assaulting her until she lost consciousness. He threw a log on her thinking that she had died and fled from the scene. Consequently, Sibanda suffered several injuries on her neck, thighs and rib cage," she said.

Sibanda was later rescued by pedestrians walking along the footpath and taken to Victoria Falls Hospital where she was admitted.