A BULK airtime vendor was shot dead by armed robbers before they got away with an undisclosed amount of cash in the Avenues area in Harare on Saturday. The incident occurred at the corner of Fife Avenue and Sixth Street around 6pm. Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tadious Chibanda confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Thomas Amidu (29).

"The bulk airtime vendor was at his flat counting his day's takings when three armed men arrived and pretended that they wanted to buy airtime," he said.

Insp Chibanda said the unsuspecting vendor opened the door whereupon one of the robbers produced a gun and ordered him to surrender all his cash.

"He resisted and cried for help and he was shot once in the abdomen before they fled with their loot," Insp Chibanda said.

When neighbours rushed to his flat, the robbers had already fled in a white Toyota Altezza.

Insp Chibanda said officers from the CID Homicide Section had since started investigating the case.

He said police discovered an empty cash box on the scene.

Insp Chibanda urged the public to desist from keeping large sums of cash at home.