In a harrowing ordeal, a pastor and his family were subjected to a terrifying robbery when five assailants invaded their home, held them at gunpoint, and forcibly took US$15,000 belonging to the church.
The incident unfolded around 7:30 am as Pastor Jedmos Moyo, aged 53 and affiliated with the AFM church, returned home after dropping off his daughter at school. Residing in a flat located at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Jason Moyo Street in the heart of Bulawayo, he was followed by the robbers who ambushed him on the stairs.
With a gun pointed at his head, one of the assailants restrained Moyo while another rifled through his pockets for keys to gain entry into the residence. Inside, Moyo’s wife was bound alongside him with an electric cable, and they were both coerced to lie on the floor as the robbers threatened their lives.
The intruders then ransacked the bedroom, seizing a bag containing the church’s funds. After snatching the US$15,000, they locked the family inside the living room before fleeing the scene.
The traumatized family promptly reported the incident to the authorities. Bulawayo’s deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the robbery and urged religious institutions to secure their finances in banks rather than keeping large sums at home.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Pastor Moyo were unsuccessful, leaving the community shocked by the brazen attack and highlighting the need for heightened security measures in both residential and commercial premises.
