Boy killed in Barbershop shooting
Harare residents are still reeling a week after three gunmen opened fire inside a barbershop killing a 12-year-old boy.
Three other children were also seriously injured in the shooting last Wednesday.
Ward councillor Anele Gubuza rushed one child to Khayelitsha District Hospital (KDH) for medical attention.
According to provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, three men entered the barbershop and opened fire on the boys who were aged between nine and 13 years old.
“The wounded boys were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The suspects are yet to be arrested, and the motive for this heinous act forms part of an ongoing investigation,’” he said.
When Vukani visited the scene just a few minutes after the incident, residents had gathered around while Mr Gabuza was rushing one of the victims to hospital.
A community leader who asked not to be named, said her son was inside the barbershop but she was grateful that her son escaped the shooting without any injuries but how he escaped was a mystery.
She said the three men entered the barbershop and fired six bullets.
“We have no idea if the owner of the barbershop was the target.
“I honestly do not understand why a normal person kills young children.
“This is the time when our children are going to various barbershops to make themselves look good but now we will be in fear because this is the second incident in Khayelitsha where children are shot in a barbershop. Others were shot in barbershop in Site C. This seems to be a trend of some sort.
“As much as I’m glad that my son survived the shooting. I feel the pain of a parent who finds herself planning a funeral for her child out of the blue,” she said.
Mr Gabuza said the other children were shot in the legs and arms and he was glad that they were not seriously injured during the senseless shooting. He said they have no idea the reason behind the shooting and the owner of the barbershop was not present during that time.
He said he would not speculate whether the shooting was extortion-related but hoped that the police would get to the bottom of this.
Funeka Soldaat, chairperson of the Khayelitsha Community Policing Forum in Harare, said the shooting has left the community in a state of fear.
She said this is the second shooting in this community this year. She said it makes no sense that someone in a good state of mind would kill innocent children. She said the time has arrived for the community of Harare to step up sand reclaim their community.