A Kenyan motorist was robbed at knifepoint of his car, a Mitsubishi Chariot, worth US$ 4 500, R6 000 in cash and two cell phones by a gang of four armed robbers along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road, police have said.

The police spokesperson for Beit Bridge district, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero, said the incident occurred on Thursday, October 22, at around 23:00, a few kilometres outside Beit Bridge town. “The victim, who is a Kenyan national, was in the company of a Zim-babwean friend and they were coming from South Africa. On their way, one of the car’s tyres developed a puncture and when they disembarked, so that they could replace the tyre, four suspects armed with knives descended on the two men and robbed them,” he said.

They then grabbed the car keys and drove off at high speed, leaving the victims stranded,” he said.

A report was made to the police, leading to the recovery of the car. The stolen vehicle was found dumped at a bushy area the following morning. However, the suspects are still at large.

“We are now investigating the incident and we are also appealing to anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact us,” Mukombero said.

Armed robbery cases along the major highways linking Beitbridge and Masvingo are increasing. A number of unsuspecting travellers, especially foreigners, continue to fall prey to at least one armed-robbery syndicate operating along the highways and targeting mostly motor-ists.

Last week, local police had a three-day operation along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road. The exercise was aimed at curbing criminal activities occurring along the highway as well as making motorists aware about the dangers of parking in lay-byes situated in bushy areas.