Robbers Lure Businessman With Cheap Groceries Then Stab Him Before Dumping Him At Tollgate

Armed robbers lured a businessman with cheap groceries before stabbing him and dumping him at a tollgate. The assailants made off with a staggering US$30,000 (approx. R540,000) in a brazen robbery that unfolded on a Saturday evening in the Belvedere area. The victim, Bannet Sibanda, had believed he was finalising a lucrative deal for discounted groceries from South Africa, only to find himself fighting for his life.

The ordeal began when Sibanda received an unsolicited approach from a man known only as “Randburg” on the popular messaging application, WhatsApp. The suspect presented an offer that was too good to refuse. Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the Harare provincial police spokesperson, provided details on the deceptive scheme.

“The complainant was contacted by an individual promising goods from South Africa at a very low price,” Inspector Chakanza confirmed. “This initial contact established a false sense of a legitimate business transaction.”

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Robbers Lure Businessman With Cheap Groceries Then Stab Him

After several days of communication, the suspect named Randburg insisted that Sibanda bring a deposit of US$10,000 for a meeting after working hours on Saturday. The location was set along Hebert Chitepo Street, near the Showgrounds. Trusting the arrangement, Sibanda drove to the spot where he located Randburg inside a Toyota Fortuner. He entered the vehicle and, in a gesture of good faith, began to count the cash he had brought. It was at this moment of vulnerability that the situation turned violent.

An accomplice suddenly entered the car, armed with a knife. The man proceeded to stab Sibanda in both of his legs, immobilising him and ensuring his compliance. The two robbers then seized his bag, which in fact contained the full US$30,000, and sped away from the scene, leaving him injured and stranded.

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The harrowing experience did not end with the robbery. The criminals transported the wounded businessman and, in a final act of callousness, discarded him at a tollgate along Dema Road. It was from this location that a disoriented and injured Sibanda was eventually able to seek help. Authorities have confirmed that he is now receiving the necessary medical care for his wounds.

Inspector Chakanza concluded his statement with a sobering confirmation of the incident’s severity, stating,