Matabeleland South police warn of highway robberies

Matabeleland Matabeleland South police have warned the public about a spate of 'movie style' highway robberies that have been taking place between Gwanda and the border town of Beitbridge, where both motorists and pedestrians have been victims along the main road linking the two towns.

In an interview with The Zimbabwe Mail on Tuesday, Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said some of the robbers pounce on unsuspecting motorists after driving livestock into the middle of the road.

"These days most of the motorists get robbed after stopping to allow livestock, especially donkeys, that would have been purposefully driven into the middle of the road by the robbers, to pass.

"When motorists stop, the robbers pounce on them," said Ndebele.

He also said some of the robberies occur at lay-byes, when motorists stop to rest and also at  secluded places.

Ndebele also said police have noted an increase in hitchhiker-related robberies where motorists who give lifts to hitchhikers end up being robbed.

"There has been an increase in robbers who pretend to be hitchhikers, only to rob motorists along the highway, or motorists who offer hitchhikers lifts only to rob them of their belongings and dump them along the way," he said.

"Motorists and pedestrians are urged to be wary of such robberies and should make sure that they are able to identify people who give them lifts or whom they would have offered lifts," he said. Ndebele added that motorists should avoid parking in secluded places and always have their windows pulled up and doors locked when they slow down or stop along the Beitbridge road.

Source - Zim Mail