Between July 13 and 17, armed gangs struck three separate cash collection sites in Bulawayo, including an EcoCash booth in Emganwini Shopping Centre, a mobile money outlet in Cowdray Park, and a cash collection center on Fort Street.
Five Days of Robberies: A Pattern Emerges
The first robbery occurred on July 13 at an EcoCash booth in Emganwini, where two masked suspects forced a 21-year-old cashier to surrender airtime recharge cards valued at US$587 and cash totaling US$2,000, according to NewsDay Zimbabwe. The total loss amounted to US$2,587, with no recovery reported.
Three days later, armed robbers targeted a mobile money outlet in Cowdray Park, stealing US$8,653, R1,000, and two transaction phones. The largest heist occurred on July 17, when four armed men stormed a cash collection center on Fort Street, forcing 16 cashiers to lie on the floor at gunpoint before stealing approximately US$53,000 in cash.
Police Response: Collaboration Over Blame
The meeting is not about blame apportioning, but rather it is about solution generation,
Chizemo said, thanking business representatives for their unwavering commitment to work with the police.
Chizemo highlighted the growing threat of organized crime, noting that 38 armed robbery cases were recorded in Bulawayo Province between January 1 and July 23 this year, with 21 targeting businesses. You bring banking services to the people’s doorsteps and for that we salute you. It is, therefore, worrying when you become targets of armed robbers,
he said.
Chizemo also urged cash agents to adopt safer practices, including frequent banking, avoiding predictable routines, and installing surveillance systems. Always ensure your safety first.
Never try to resist armed robbers because they will not think twice before killing you,
he warned.
Inside the Robberies: Tactics and Targets
Chizemo described the modus operandi of the gangs, noting that they closely monitor the activities of cash agents before planning their attacks, and in many cases insiders provide critical information.
The robbers operate in groups of at least two, often using masks and weapons such as firearms, knives, and machetes, according to Heraldonline.
The July 13 EcoCash robbery in Emganwini involved two suspects who entered the butchery housing the booth, with one pointing a firearm at the attendant while the other forced the cashier to hand over her handbag. He approached the complainant and forcibly took her handbag, took out airtime recharge cards valued at US$587 and cash amounting to US$2,000 and went away,
said Nomalanga Msebele, a Bulawayo police spokesperson, in NewsDay Zimbabwe.
Another incident on July 16 saw robbers target a mobile money outlet in Cowdray Park as employees were closing for the day. They stole US$8,653, R1,000, and two phones used for transactions, then locked workers and a customer inside an office before fleeing. The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in that robbery, according to NewsDay Zimbabwe.
What Comes Next: Investigations and Safety Measures
Chizemo emphasized that we will never brook and allow criminals and their syndicates to terrorise our communities with impunity while we watch,
according to Heraldonline.
Businesses are being urged to adopt stricter security protocols, including installing CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and panic buttons. Chizemo also recommended that cash handling agents avoid keeping large amounts of cash on premises and ensure that transactions are not conducted in full view of customers.
We have observed that these robbers closely monitor the activities of cash agents before planning their attacks,
she said, adding that insiders provide critical information
in some cases.
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