The businessman was brutally attacked at his home in Paradise Park and sustained serious head injuries.
Robbers, suspected to be soldiers, invaded the premises at around 03.45 last Thursday. They woke up a woman living in the cottage and forced her to request the businessman to open doors to the main house. She was ordered to tell him that she wanted to be ferried to hospital as she had suddenly fallen ill. The unsuspecting businessman opened the doors and was hit with an axe and iron bars. One of the robbers used the butt of a gun to assault him. The man, who is heavily built and does weight-lifting, fought back and managed to grab a 303 rifle from the robbers despite bleeding profusely from the head. The robbers panicked and escaped with some loot, said a senior police officer at Marondera Police District Headquarters.
The victim made a report to the police and docket RRB 0951993 was opened, but investigations have been stalled due to interference by Chiwenga whose rifle was allegedly used in the robbery.
A Sony 46 inch Television Set, LCD/Plasma, Dell PC, Dell TFT Monitor and Samsung Digital Camera were among the items stolen.
A source at the police station said: Investigations established serial numbers on the rifle used in the robbery matched those of Chiwengas firearm. When contacted to assist police with investigations, Chiwenga claimed the rifle was stolen by one of his nephews from his Marondera Whinstone Park House some time ago. This was contrary to unconfirmed reports that at the time of the robbery, the rifle was still in custody of Chiwenga at the house.
Another source at the Mashonaland East Provincial Police Headquarters revealed Chiwenga later phoned senior police officers at the camp advising them: Your junior police investigations officers are bothering me with stupid and unnecessary probing. This is a petty issue. Tell them to attribute the robbery to one of my nephews who stole the rifle a few years ago. Alternatively, the investigating team should shut up and close the case.
Investigating officers reportedly probed Chiwenga about whether he reported the incident of the stolen 303. If so, where was the report made and what was the RRB number? Chiwenga failed to furnish these details. This resulted in a deadlock with Chiwenga insisting police should take his side of the story while investigating officers refused to attribute the robbery to the said nephew. Given the stalemate, police feared the case could be closed without arrests. Investigations have been shelved for now, said the source.
Meanwhile, an army source has revealed that soldiers guarding Chiwengas Whinstone Park House are dissatisfied with erratic supplies of rations.
They claimed they sometimes do not get three decent meals per day. Compounded with poor salaries which barely meet soldiers basic needs, troops would be tempted to use firearms in criminal activities to make a living. Chiwenga was desperately trying to down play the robbery case as it was the tip of an iceberg regarding discontent and indiscipline crippling in the defence forces due to poor remuneration. Senior officers in the defence forces continue to enjoy the better chunk of the national cake at the expense of juniors. Junior soldiers live pauper lives, the source at Army Headquarters (KG6) Barracks said.
Like other struggling government workers, soldiers earn an average $150 per month.
Residents have called on Cabinet and Co-Home Affairs Ministers, Theresa Makone and Kembo Mohandi, to ensure the Chiwenga 303 rifle saga, is not swept under the carpet but fully investigated.
No one should be above the law. In the interest of justice and public security, the law must run its course. Residents would follow with interest developments in the high profile armed robbery case. People could not afford peaceful sleep, when guns under custody of a top gunman on the land continue to be misused, said Richard Murenje of Dombotombo.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News