By Leonard Ncube
A workshop owned by Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu in Bulawayo was nearly ‘petrol bombed’ by three unknown men who fled leaving two containers of fuel in the early hours of yesterday.
Indications are that three men arrived at the depot along Plumtree Road in Belmont at about 1.30am carrying containers with fuel and attempted to petrol bomb the premises, where there is a workshop and a fuel service station.
However, the unidentified men fled leaving behind two containers after being confronted by an alert security guard.
The incident occurred at almost the same time as Chronicle offices along 9th Avenue were almost burnt down after unknown men set fire on a wooden door.
The suspected bombers’ motives remain a mystery.
Chronicle visited Dr Mpofu’s depot yesterday afternoon where security guards confirmed the issue but referred questions to their superiors.
“Something like that happened but we cannot let you in. You need clearance from management first,” said a security guard.
A management official from the company’s office said in a telephone interview:
“There were about three men who arrived at the depot at about 1.30am. They carried two containers which had fuel and they fled leaving them behind. The containers were taken by police as exhibits and were three-quarter full. They fled without taking anything or burning anything.”
A manager for the workshop in Belmont, Godfrey Welsh confirmed the attempted bombing.
“It is true that some people were spotted at the premises. We have reported the matter to the security that mans the premises and they are looking into the issue,” said Welsh.
Although acknowledging the incident, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo could not comment on the incident, saying he was yet to get full details. The Chronicle
