Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Freeman Razemba
1 July 2009
Harare — A MUREHWA businessman was last Friday shot and killed by three armed robbers who raided his shop at Chigumirirwa Business Centre in Musami.
Gladmore Sithole (51) died after he was shot on the head while sleeping in one of the rooms at the complex.
The incident occurred at around 11:30pm and the robbers got away with US$770, three cellphones and a pistol.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri said three robbers armed with guns broke the door to a room in which four family members, two of Sithole's wives and their two children, were sleeping and fired two shots into the air.
"They were ordered to lie down and comply with the robbers' orders. The robbers then assaulted them all over their bodies, demanding cash and that they reveal Sithole's whereabouts," said Supt Phiri.
The robbers proceeded to the room where Sithole was and one of them fired a shot through the window, hitting the businessman on the right side of the head and killing him instantly.
Supt Phiri said the gang broke the door and went through the deceased's pockets and took his P1 pistol. The robbers then went into another room where a shop assistant was sleeping and assaulted her demanding cash.
A few minutes later, the gang returned to the room where Sithole was lying dead and took the money, which was in a locked metal box, before disappearing into the darkness.
When The Herald visited the scene yesterday, one of Sithole's wives, Sylvia, who was also assaulted during the ordeal, said it appeared the robbers had beforehand knowledge of everyone at the shop and the fact that Sithole owned a gun.
She said it was not the first time that the shop had been raided.
Sithole was buried yesterday afternoon in Musami.
He is survived by five wives and 26 children.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the gang, which is still at large.
There has been an armed robbery surge countrywide with some of the criminals targeting rural shop owners as they would be holding large amounts of money from the day's takings overnight on their premises and security levels are not high.
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