By: Chronicle Reporter
A building society in Matabeleland  South Province lost more than $200 000 to a gang of suspected armed robbers in an  incident that now appears to have been an inside job.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe, said ZB Bank in Colleen Bawn was on Saturday robbed of $210 000 and R300 000.

Insp Dzirutwe said police had so far picked up four suspects, all employees of the bank, in connection with the robbery case.
“We have picked up four employees of the bank and they are assisting the police with investigations in the robbery. Some cash has actually been recovered but I cannot give further details as this would jeopardise police investigations,” said Insp Dzirutwe.

Insp Dzirutwe said last Saturday night some suspects approached the manager of the bank at his house.
One suspect, who was armed with what looked like a pistol, allegedly demanded safe keys from   the supervisor who told him that the keys were  with another employee. He instructed the manager to call the other bank employee who is a teller, who was said to be in possession of the safe keys.

“Two other suspects then left the manager’s residence and the one who was armed ordered  the manager to drive the bank vehicle to the  house where the teller was staying. The  suspect then ordered the two bank employees to drive to the bank where the safe was opened and he took the money,” said the provincial police spokesperson.
Insp Dzirutwe said besides the cash, the suspected robbers took one Nokia cellphone and one LG cellphone both valued at $120.

After the suspected robbery, the manager   was allegedly ordered to drive the suspect to Gwanda but the vehicle was later found  abandoned near Mopani compound outside Gwanda town.
The manager purported to have been dumped along the way, Insp Dzirutwe said.

“We strongly suspect that this was an inside job given the circumstances under which the alleged robbery was committed. This has prompted the police to pick up the bank employees including the manager, for questioning,” he said.

Police sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the firearm used in the alleged robbery was yet to be recovered as the suspects claimed to have dumped it in a bush in Matabeleland South Province.
The sources said more than $100 000 had so far been recovered following the arrest of the bank employees.