Armed Robbers Hit Roman Catholic, Get Away With Cash And Car
Published: 2016 July 18 07:09:16 (5877 Views)
Robbers allegedly ransacked a Roman Catholic Church and got away with $11 000 and a Toyota Hilux, after tying up the priest.
The robbery occurred on Saturday around 9PM at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Mission in Ndolwane area, Bulilima District.
Sources close to the church revealed to a local publication that the three men tied and gagged Father Sony Xavier before locking him up in his house, as they got away.
They force-marched the priest around his house, which is located within the church premises while holding a pistol to his head, the sources said.
The gunmen, they added, ordered him to disclose the location of the church’s safe and forced the priest to open it.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Philani Ndebele yesterday said he was yet to receive full details of the incident.
“I received communication about an incident of an armed robbery which occurred at a Roman Catholic Church in Ndolwane area but I’m yet to receive a detailed report on what exactly happened,’’ he said.
Father Xavier said his harrowing ordeal lasted about 30 minutes. He said his captors were so aggressive, he thought they would kill him. The priest said the robbers gained access into his unlocked house through a kitchen door.
The three men, he said, were wearing woollen hats but he failed to recognise their faces.
“My house doesn’t have electricity and as a result I use a generator. “The armed robbers gained access and one of them held a gun to my head. They tied my hands together and they led me from one room to another and ordered me to show them where I kept money and other valuables.
“They stole about $11,000 that was earmarked for building a church in Madlambuzi. I also had a Toyota Hilux single cab vehicle registration number ABI 2634 which was parked outside and they fled in it,’’ said Father Xavier.
Father Xavier said they left him trussed on the floor. “I managed to loosen the rope around my hands with my teeth and luckily they had left my cellphone behind so I used it to call someone within the community.
“That was when villagers came to my aid and they alerted the police who attended the scene. I was very shaken. “I was even afraid to go out of the house on my own. That was why I first alerted community members,’’ he said.
Father Xavier said the trio held a gun to his head and repeatedly threatened to kill him. The area’s traditional leader Chief Masendu said he received a report about the incident, which he said had left the entire community terrified.
He said he hoped that the culprits would be arrested soon so that villagers would feel safe. “It’s shocking how people have lost their morals to an extent that they are now robbing churches. People are now scared that there are armed robbers who are on the loose and if they are apprehended it would be better,” he said.
- Chronicle
The robbery occurred on Saturday around 9PM at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Mission in Ndolwane area, Bulilima District.
Sources close to the church revealed to a local publication that the three men tied and gagged Father Sony Xavier before locking him up in his house, as they got away.
They force-marched the priest around his house, which is located within the church premises while holding a pistol to his head, the sources said.
The gunmen, they added, ordered him to disclose the location of the church’s safe and forced the priest to open it.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Philani Ndebele yesterday said he was yet to receive full details of the incident.
“I received communication about an incident of an armed robbery which occurred at a Roman Catholic Church in Ndolwane area but I’m yet to receive a detailed report on what exactly happened,’’ he said.
Father Xavier said his harrowing ordeal lasted about 30 minutes. He said his captors were so aggressive, he thought they would kill him. The priest said the robbers gained access into his unlocked house through a kitchen door.
The three men, he said, were wearing woollen hats but he failed to recognise their faces.
“My house doesn’t have electricity and as a result I use a generator. “The armed robbers gained access and one of them held a gun to my head. They tied my hands together and they led me from one room to another and ordered me to show them where I kept money and other valuables.
“They stole about $11,000 that was earmarked for building a church in Madlambuzi. I also had a Toyota Hilux single cab vehicle registration number ABI 2634 which was parked outside and they fled in it,’’ said Father Xavier.
Father Xavier said they left him trussed on the floor. “I managed to loosen the rope around my hands with my teeth and luckily they had left my cellphone behind so I used it to call someone within the community.
“That was when villagers came to my aid and they alerted the police who attended the scene. I was very shaken. “I was even afraid to go out of the house on my own. That was why I first alerted community members,’’ he said.
Father Xavier said the trio held a gun to his head and repeatedly threatened to kill him. The area’s traditional leader Chief Masendu said he received a report about the incident, which he said had left the entire community terrified.
He said he hoped that the culprits would be arrested soon so that villagers would feel safe. “It’s shocking how people have lost their morals to an extent that they are now robbing churches. People are now scared that there are armed robbers who are on the loose and if they are apprehended it would be better,” he said.
- Chronicle
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
