Beitbridge customs agent shot four times in US$10 000 robbery

A BEITBRIDGE customs clearing agent was shot four times by eight armed robbers who allegedly stormed his home in Dulivhadzimu suburb before escaping with US$10 000 and other valuables.

Mr Sebastian Mhondiwa (33) was shot twice in the left leg and once in the right leg, while a fourth bullet grazed his left thigh near the groin during the attack at about 1am last Tuesday.

The robbers allegedly ransacked the house while Mhondiwa lay bleeding on the floor, fearing for the safety of his wife, children and relatives who were inside.

According to Mhondiwa, the gang targeted him after he had taken home US$10 000 belonging to clients, which he was due to hand over the following day.

He said he had fallen asleep on a sofa in the lounge while watching football when he heard a noise coming from the bedrooms.

"I heard a noise coming from the bedrooms and rushed to investigate. At first, I thought it was my wife and her sister having a misunderstanding. Little did I know that some people had broken into the house after tampering with a French door leading into my bedroom from outside," he said.

Mhondiwa said he came face-to-face with a man wearing a balaclava as he emerged from the bedroom. The two allegedly collided and fell to the ground before the intruder drew a pistol and shot him four times.

The robbers allegedly demanded all the cellphones in the house and took four before assaulting Mhondiwa and demanding to know where the cash was kept.

He told them the money was in his car, explaining that he had failed to hand it over the previous day after travelling out of town and returning late.

The gang allegedly continued assaulting him before demanding his car keys.

"One of the men hit me with a crowbar above my right eye and I sustained a deep cut. They then fled from the house and my family sought assistance from a neighbour, who rushed me to hospital," he said.

Mhondiwa underwent surgery on both legs, with doctors inserting fixation devices to stabilise the fractures. Eight internal fixation devices were fitted to his left leg and four to his right.

Following his discharge from hospital, he is expected to use a wheelchair for about six weeks.

Despite the attack, Mhondiwa said his greatest concern throughout the ordeal was the safety of his family.

His two-year-old child heard the commotion from another room, while his six-year-old child woke up after the robbers had fled and found him lying injured on the floor.

"I'm glad that my children did not witness this horrific attack, as they would have been severely affected psychologically and left traumatised.

"Throughout the entire incident, I was praying for the safety of my children, wife and relatives who were in the house. I'm grateful to be alive. I saw God's mighty hand in all of this, as these people could have killed me," said Mhondiwa.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that police were investigating the armed robbery.

He said the eight suspects, who were armed with pistols, bolt cutters and a crowbar, allegedly targeted two victims in separate incidents.

"We are investigating an armed robbery case which occurred in Beitbridge. Eight men who were wearing balaclavas attacked the first victim while he was on his way to his house and took US$400, R1 000 and a cellphone," said Nyathi.

"They proceeded to the home of the second victim, Mr Mhondiwa, whom they shot several times before fleeing with US$10 000 and other valuables."

Police investigations are continuing.