{A robber pounced on Methodist Church members on Saturday at Mpandawana Growth Point in Masvingo and took away their mobile phones and cash.}
Police said the robber sneaked into Mpandawana Methodist Church through a broken window and robbed the worshippers gathered for an all-night prayer. The incident occurred around 2am.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero said the robber was armed with a machete and a knife and threatened his victims with death if they raised alarm.
The robber vanished with six Nokia cellphones, US$40 and a handbag. Police have since launched a manhunt and are appealing to anyone with information to assist them with investigations to come forward.
Meanwhile, thieves have been stealing valuables from members of the congregation during church services in Harare.
Pastor Berry Dambaza of Upper Room Ministries, a local Pentecostal church, said they were forced to tighten security during their services.
“We had a serious problem a few years ago. At one point we set a trap and we were surprised that it was a respected member of the church who was responsible for the thefts. She used her children to steal handbags and cell phones in the church,” he said.
After police arrested the suspect, she left the church.
“In another case a parishioner directed a child to collect a handbag that belonged to another, saying it was hers. We have had a lot of these cases and it appears our church is being targeted,” Pastor Dambaza said.
There are fears that gangs are targeting church services across the city.
“This is particularly disturbing because there could be a syndicate operating in the area. Earlier this year, we recovered some stolen items and among them was a phone which we traced to a church in Westgate. The owner confirmed that the phone had been stolen during a service,” said a local policeman.
Similar reports of theft have been reported at a mosque in Mbare. As a requirement, Muslims take off their shoes and leave them outside the mosque during their services.
Myzimbabwe
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