BULAWAYO — A senior police officer was killed while a junior officer and four civilians were critically injured after they were shot by armed robbers during a raid at a pub in the city centre shortly before midnight on Friday.

The bloodbath at Cape to Cairo pub and restaurant located about a kilometre from the Bulawayo Central Police Station came after a series of armed robberies hit the city.
The robbers pounced when patrons were drinking the night away and the city awoke to news of one of the most violent crimes since armed robberies peaked last year.

Sources said the drinking spot was frequented mostly by senior police officers and business executives.

A chief superintendent (name given) who was reportedly having a drink at the pub with an assistant commissioner (name also given) and other police officers was shot dead after he allegedly tried to challenge the suspects.

Cape to Cairo workers Nonhlanhla Moyo and Ndodana Tshuma, two unidentified patrons and a junior officer were also critically injured after they were shot by the robbers.

The five are admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals. The suspects allegedly got away with US$700.
Bonisani Mafela, a Cape to Cairo manager who was on duty on Friday night, confirmed the shootout, saying the armed robbers fired no less than 20 shots to scare terrified patrons.
“The four robbers were drinking with other patrons and all of a sudden ordered everyone to lie down,” Mafela said.

“They ordered everyone to cover their heads with their hands and during that time they were just firing randomly at the ceiling and windows.

“According to people who were sitting near the senior police officer, he was shot dead after he was seen pulling a pistol from his jacket.

“They took away his pistol. Two of our employees were also shot and are admitted at UBH.

“The robbers emptied the bar tills and took away all the cash that we had made at the time.

“The robbers ran away on foot after they had emptied all the tills,” said Mafela who looked traumatised during the interview at the pub yesterday.
The condition of the injured could not be ascertained but they were said to be in the Intensive Care Unit.

Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo refused to comment when contacted for comment referring questions to his superiors in Harare.

Senior Assistant Commissioner, Wayne Bvudzijena could neither confirm nor deny, preferring only to say that he will investigate the matter.

The raid at around 11:45pm came less than two days after armed robbers raided Dickeys restaurant also in the city centre.

It also came less than a month after daring armed robbers raided Nkulumane police station and made away with a number of guns which have since been recovered.

Questions have been raised on how armed robbers obtain firearms despite government claims that it has tightened its firearm licensing processes.

Police Commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri recently indicated that police have adopted a “shoot to kill” policy when confronted by armed criminals.
Chihuri expressed concern over the upsurge in armed robbery cases.

According to police statistics, Bulawayo has recorded the highest number of armed robbery cases.

Police suspect that people who used to survive on black market activities are behind the spate of robberies and killings around the country.

By The Standard