 MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai and two officials were the victims of an armed robbery in South Africa. Related Articles Tsvangirai to meet MDC candidates
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13 February 2008
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was robbed at his Johannesburg offices on Tuesday evening, reports confirmed.
Spokesperson Thembi Nkhwasu said Tsvangirai and two of his officials were in their offices in Homestead Avenue in Bryanston at about 6pm when they were confronted by three men armed with pistols.
"The robbers stole the three men's bags, laptops, cellphones and an undisclosed amount of Zimbabwe dollars.
"The robbers escaped in a white sedan that was waiting for them outside," she said.
Police are investigating a case of armed robbery and appealed to anyone with information to call the crime hotline, 08600 10111.
"We have not spoken to Tsvangirai but we can confirm that none of the officials were hurt," said Nkhwasu. Sources told Nehanda Radio one of the officials with Tsvangirai was party Treasurer General Roy Bennet.
The MDC officials are said to have had on their person various party documents including the election manifesto Tsvangirai has been promoting in South Africa. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed the incident but said he was still to get more information.
South Africa is notorious for its high crime levels. The Tanzanian ambassador was recently seriously injured by thieves there, and in October, reggae star Lucky Dube was gunned down in front of his two children in an apparent botched attempt to steal his Chrysler vehicle.
Cable News Network (CNN) journalist Jeff Koinange and his wife were robbed of a laptop and other personal belongings near the network's offices in Johannesburg. Zimbabwean journalist Abel Mutsakani was shot in the chest by a gunman last year in unclear circumstances.
With the country set to host the FIFA football World Cup in 2010 concern is growing over the safety of tourists and soccer fans expected to travel to the games.
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Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.