An informal trader from Bulawayo died on the spot after she was assaulted by an assailant who tried to steal from her shop, Sunday.
Blessing Sibanda, whose age could not be immediately established, spotted a thief in her shop along fife street and fifth Avenue and shouted for help.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
He said police were still investigating the matter so he could not give further details.
Eye witnesses who were at the scene said as she called for help, the man hit her on the left side of her chest and she fell to the ground and hit her head.
The late Sibanda was a member of the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) where she served as the business development secretary.
BVTA director Micheal Ndiweni told CITE their organisation was deeply saddened by the death of Sibanda.
Ndiweni described Sibanda as a hardworking member who had served in the organization’s executive for the past two years.
“Sibanda started off as a vendor and she has been advancing very well. She was an active member of the BVTA. She has been serving as our vice president for the past two years until two weeks ago when we held our annual general elections whee she moved to be our business development secretary,” said Ndiweni.
He said through her sales she had advanced herself and had built herself a house and bought a car.
Ndiweni said he got a phone call around 9 AM informing him of the news that Sibanda had been physically assualted.
“When I got there she had no help had come. We had to call an ambulance,” he said.
