ZRP cop disarmed, left for dead by violent exam robbers

A Zvishavane policeman is lucky to be alive after armed assailants disarmed him and beat him up with an assortment of weapons.

He was ambushed after disturbing thieves who had come to steal school examination papers at a school in Gutu.

The incident occurred on Monday this week.

Constable Norest Kuvarega (31) of Buchwa’s police support unit had been deployed to Mpandawana High School in Gutu to guard Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examination material, said a source.

His attackers allegedly struck him with a stone on the head, stabbed on him on the cheek and tried to strangle him.  They left him for dead, tied to a desk at the school.

Investigators allegedly found the rifle along a footpath about 500 metres from the scene.

Its magazine was still fully loaded.

It was not clear yesterday how the assailants escaped the detection of two other cops who were on guard duty with Cst Kuvarega.

Zimsec Masvingo regional manager Silvanos Dandira could not be reached for comment yesterday.

However, sources said the robbers who were also armed with knobkerries and hammers intended to steal O- and A-Level examination question papers at the school.

Kuvarenga is recovering at Gutu hospital.