The Herald has reported that a seven-member gang armed with machetes, axes, bicycle chains, knives and iron bars laid siege to Nyaradza Business Centre in Gokwe South where it looted shops and bars, robbed and assaulted members of the public on Friday night.
Mr Maxwell Gondo, a teacher at a nearby school, said that he was about to leave the business centre when the gang rounded up people. He narrated:
It was a traumatic 30-minute encounter with the machete gang as they would strike at will, assaulting and cursing victims who would be found with nothing valuable.
I lost a cellphone and US$5 which I had in my pocket, but I felt for a colleague whom they pounced on after me. I saw them assaulting him with chains over why he had nothing on him.
We were told to lie down and they searched everyone while striking others with machetes.
The incident was confirmed by Acting police spokesperson for Midlands Province Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende who said that a manhunt for the suspects is already underway.
The development comes when the police have banned the possession of machetes, axes and knives in the public in the Midlands Province, to restore sanity.
More: The Herald