An unknown number of robbers reportedly broke into St. Gerard’s Parish Catholic Church in Borrowdale early on Friday morning, taking off with an unknown amount of cash.
The parish priest, Father Mark Chikuni, stated that the perpetrators broke into the main church and blew up safes that contained money designated for banking.
In a desperate attempt to obtain more cash, the suspects also vandalised several sacred areas within the church, including the sacristy, the altar servers’ room, and the Parish Priest’s office.
Thankfully, no one was hurt, including the patrol guard on duty. The finance council has strengthened security measures on the property as a result of the incident. Father Chikuni emphasised that the church does not keep cash on hand. Parish Catholic Church
This episode is a part of a troubling trend in which criminal behaviour has turned Roman Catholic organisations into targets. Churches and schools in the regions of Bulawayo and Matabeleland South were the targets of several armed robberies in 2023. Two priests were beaten and confined at Holy Trinity Catholic Church before the attackers made off with a car and more than $1,500 in cash.
In a another instance, thieves targeted the Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Parish and stole more than US$6,000 in addition to beating the priest and damaging property. Reports state that this was the church’s fifteenth target of an armed robbery in a single year.
