Vic Falls council guard left for dead

By Leonard Ncube

A VICTORIA Falls town council security guard has been hospitalised after he was attacked in a foiled robbery last Friday.

The attempted robbery at a council property happened a few hours after unknown men broke into a room at Ilala Lodge and stole a camera and other gadgets belonging to a tourist from Singapore.

In the foiled robbery, Bhekimpilo Tshongwe, 43, was found badly injured and unconscious after he was attacked at Chinotimba old bar, which is owned by the municipality.

He was admitted to Victoria Falls Hospital and had a deep cut on the head after being hit with an unknown object.

No arrests have been made in both the attempted robbery and theft of a tourist’s belongings.

The guard has 13 stiches on the head, some above the right eye and on the upper lip following the attack.

Victoria Falls Town Clerk Christopher Dube told Chronicle that the case was reported to the police.

“We got a report that one of our security guards was attacked by unknown assailants and we sent him to hospital. All we know is that it was a robbery and the attackers left him unconscious, they dragged him to a nearby office while demanding keys to the money safe. We are leaving everything to the police,” said Dube.

Municipal police head, Isabel Mhlophe said the attack occurred at about 3AM on Friday.

“Tshongwe was deployed at Chinotimba Old Bar in the evening and at about 3AM as he was sitting down after patrolling around the bar, he was hit with an unknown object on the head from the back and fell to the ground,” she said.

She said Tshongwe tried to fight back, but was overpowered.

“They hit him on the head for the second time and he started bleeding from the mouth and nose and that is when he gave in and pretended to have fainted, but eventually fell unconscious. They pulled him to an office about 15 metres away while continuously kicking him and demanding that he shows them keys to the safe,” said Mhlophe.

She said the guard then screamed for help and the attackers fled, leaving him for dead.

A few moments later, she said, Tshongwe struggled to a nearby sink and opened a tap to wash his face.

He then screamed for help and some guards came to his rescue, but found him unconscious.

“One guard remained watching him, while the other rushed to the office to report and he was rushed to hospital while a report was made to the police. He sustained a deep cut on the head and mouth but at least the doctor confirmed there were no internal injuries in the chest,” said Mhlophe.

She bemoaned shortage of staff saying that was the reason why they deploy one guard per premise, yet in terms of the law at least two people should be deployed.

At Ilala, the Singapore national, had gone for dinner at the same hotel when the suspects broke into his room at about 7pm. The hotel manager was said to be away but police officer commanding Victoria Falls District Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona confirmed the incident. The Chronicle