In a scene reminiscent of a movie, a 33-year-old South African man outwitted two knife-wielding suspects who intended to rob him along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo highway in Zimbabwe on Good Friday night, police have said.

The police spokesman for Matabeleland South province, Insp Tafanana Dzirutwe, said the incident occurred on 21 March at around 21:00 near the West Nicholson area.

"The victim was driving from Beit Bridge town and heading towards Bulawayo and along the way, he decided to make a stopover at a lay-bye point where he subsequently took a nap. However, while sleeping, the two suspects, armed with knives, emerged from the bush and tried to force open the doors of his car, resulting in his waking up. The three started wrestling," he said.

The suspects pulled out knives and tried to stab the victim in the chest, but he managed to shield himself, using his elbow.

Dzirutwe said the man managed to overpower one of his assailants before he quickly got back into his car and sped off. The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the attack. "He then drove to the nearest police station where he reported the matter to the police."

Dzirutwe said they have since launched a manhunt for the two suspects, who are still at large.

Of late, there has been an increase in the number of armed robbery cases along the major highways in the neighboring country in which motorists are mainly targeted.

Recently, another South African couple from Jeppestown in Gauteng was robbed of bags containing clothes and two digital cameras at knifepoint by six armed suspects, while heading to Harare on holiday.