Bulawayo Forex Dealer Shot in Luveve, Robbed of US$5,700
Bulawayo is grappling with a troubling rise in violent crime, with the latest incident involving a forex dealer who was ambushed and shot near Maplanka Shops in Luveve on Monday night.
Bulawayo police acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident, stating, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the armed robbery incident that occurred on Monday at around 9:30 PM near Maplanka Shops in Luveve.
“The complainant, Mthokozisi Nkomo, was attacked after disembarking from a commuter omnibus travelling from the city centre to Gwabalanda suburb.”
The suspect, who had also alighted from the same vehicle, turned back, produced a firearm and shot the complainant in the stomach before fleeing with a bag containing US$5,700, BWP2,000, R1,400, and a Samsung A13 cellphone.”
Nkomo was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment and remains under medical observation.
Asst Insp Msebele added, “Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect. We urge residents to avoid carrying large sums of money, especially at night and to utilise banking services to minimise risk.”
She further remarked, “We are intensifying patrols and urging the public to provide any information that could help track down the perpetrators.”
This incident highlights a broader wave of violent crime in Bulawayo. Just a day earlier, gunmen stormed a service station along Siyephambili Drive in Kelvin West, seizing US$1,000 and R7,000.
In that case, three masked suspects armed with rifles and a pistol fired a warning shot and forced fuel attendants into the cash office before taking all available cash.
In response to the escalating crime wave, some fuel stations have revised their operating hours, shutting down at night to protect employees and customers.
One such attack involved a Kelvin Industrial Area service station, where robbers escaped with US$2,374 and R115,235.
