BULAWAYO – Armed robbers pounced Saturday on a Women Empowerment Trust money transfer outlet in Bulawayo’s CBD and snatched US$ 6 270 plus ZAR 5 000 cash before sending police on a futile four-hour search for them inside the building housing the company.
The incident happened on the sixth floor of Fidelity Building corner 11th Avenue and Fife Street.
Business came to a standstill in the CBD after police who reacted swiftly to the report, cordoned off the area to comb the building after word circulated the suspects were still holed-up inside the 12 storey building.
Detectives from the police Homicide Department, police Support Unit Special Tactics Team, Canine Unit and private security companies formed the search party.
It later turned out the suspects had long escaped the building.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi later confirmed the robbery.
“The ZRP is investigating an armed robbery incident which occurred at a trust and women empowerment company at 6th Floor, Fidelity Building, Bulawayo where two suspects armed with pistols attacked complainants and took US$ 6 270.00 as well as ZAR 5 000.00 cash.
“The company is also involved in money transfer,” Nyathi said, adding that the robbers harassed some customers who wanted to collect and deposit their monies.
The suspects reportedly fled in a white Honda Fit vehicle.
The robbery comes just a few days after armed robbers also pounced on a CBZ branch in the Bulawayo CBD along the same street.
The suspects are yet to be arrested.
