In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement authorities have apprehended five individuals suspected of being involved in a series of robberies that have plagued Bulawayo and Victoria Falls over the past several months.
The suspects, identified as Silence Kwangwa, Ayanda Ncube, Julias Mugwagwa, Douglas Rizani, and Edzayi Madondo, allegedly targeted both residential and commercial properties belonging to families and businesspeople known to keep substantial amounts of cash at home.
According to a statement issued by Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, the arrests were made last Friday following valuable tip-offs received by the police. During subsequent interviews, the apprehended suspects implicated their alleged accomplices, Wellington Ndoro and Felias Mvula, both of whom were already in police custody in relation to a separate robbery that occurred on December 14, 2023, in Victoria Falls.
These recent arrests have paved the way for the resolution of 11 previously unsolved robbery cases. Among the notable incidents were an attack on a milling company in Bulawayo on September 23, 2023, during which the perpetrators made off with a chubb safe containing a staggering US$40,000. Additionally, on November 2, 2023, the suspects reportedly assaulted security guards stationed at a company premises in Belmont, Bulawayo, before breaking into offices. The stolen items from this heist included US$19,204 in cash, 2.2kg of gold, two laptops, a CCTV DVR, various cellphones, and other valuables, collectively valued at US$154,304.
Further investigations led to the recovery of several items related to the robberies. These included a blue Honda Fit vehicle with registration number AEQ 3032, a 9mm CZ pistol with erased serial numbers, a cash safe, CCTV DVR equipment, laptops from Asus and HP, a MAC Book, Huawei and Samsung tablets, numerous cellphones, and various other valuables. Notably, a sum of 2000 Pakistan rupees was discovered at the residence of Silence Kangwa in Trenance, Bulawayo.
In a separate incident, law enforcement officials also made headway in a case involving the brazen robbery of a mine in Kadoma. Among the 15-member gang involved, three individuals were apprehended. William Dhumukwa, James Zawi, and Chishamiso Muganiri were captured following a shootout with the police in Mbare, Harare.
The suspects, armed with two pistols and two .303 rifles, managed to escape during the initial confrontation but left behind the discarded rifles at the crime scene. A subsequent investigation revealed that the recovered .303 rifles had been reported stolen in Harare during another robbery earlier this month.
The arrests of these suspects signify a significant triumph for law enforcement efforts to combat the rising tide of robberies in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Authorities are now focusing on gathering additional evidence and building strong cases against the accused individuals. The public is reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to assist in maintaining community safety.
As investigations continue, the swift and decisive actions by the police serve as a testament to their dedication in safeguarding communities and bringing criminals to justice.
