The two Zimbabwean men who allegedly tried to rob a 33-year-old Polokwane resident along the Beit Bridge-Bulawayo road on Good Friday, appeared in court last Monday.

The two, Luckmore Gutu (26) and Givemore Chauke (27), appeared before the Beit Bridge magistrate, Mr Tawengwa Sangster, on charges of armed robbery. The case was postponed to May 13, and no bail was granted.

The court was told that on Good Friday night (21 March), the two allegedly waylaid the victim, who was driving along the Beit Bridge-Bulawayo road. The two, who were armed with knives, spotted the victim, a Polokwane resident, after he had decided to park his car at a lay-bye point. 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.

While he was sleeping, the two suspects emerged from the bush and tried to force open the doors of his car, resulting in his waking up. The three started wrestling and the suspects then pulled out knives and tried to stab the victim, but he managed to shield himself, using his elbow. The victim 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.

The two suspects were arrested in West Nicholson area of Gwanda on Saturday last week, following a three-week-long hunt. This was after another futile attempt to rob another motorist along the same highway.

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.