Harare, Zimbabwe – The streets of Harare, once echoing with the whispers of a notorious armed robbery gang, are now a little quieter. The “Untouchables,” as they were known, have fallen, their reign of terror brought to an abrupt end by a relentless police operation that has seen members of the gang arrested, killed, or implicated in a web of their own making. The operation, which has sent shockwaves through the city, has revealed a disturbing truth: some of the gang members were serving soldiers, a fact that has raised serious questions about the integrity of the nation’s security forces.
The brazen J and P Security robbery, a daring heist that sent shockwaves through the city, stands as a testament to the gang’s audacity. But their reign was not limited to this single high-profile incident. The “Untouchables” were behind a string of movie-style thefts, leaving a trail of fear and uncertainty in their wake.
The police, however, were undeterred. Their investigation, meticulously pieced together, began with a seemingly innocuous clue – a stolen mobile phone found in the possession of Melody Mudzimurema, the girlfriend of gang member Innocent Chawaguta, 37. This seemingly insignificant discovery, like a single thread pulled from a tangled web, unravelled the intricate network of the “Untouchables,” leading to the arrest of Thembinkosi Matutu, 47, the first domino to fall in a chain reaction that would ultimately bring the gang down.
The arrests, however, were not without their share of drama. The police, in a calculated move, lured Charute’s wife, Tariro Kasusu, to the station, where she revealed her husband’s true identity as Reuben Mutamiri, born on 22 November 1989. This revelation, coupled with the discovery of a stolen Astra Cadix revolver at Charute’s residence, further tightened the noose around the gang’s necks.
The pursuit of the “Untouchables” took a dramatic turn on 21 April 2024, when detectives received intelligence suggesting that gang member Manhobo was planning to meet his accomplices at Charge office bus terminus, en route to their next target. The police, acting swiftly, apprehended Manhobo aboard a commuter omnibus, adding another significant arrest to their list.
The final showdown, however, was marked by tragedy. On 15 May 2024, detectives, acting on a tip-off, tracked down the elusive Tinashe Takudzwa Tricias Munjerenjere to his homestead in Murisa Village. A tense confrontation ensued, culminating in a fatal shootout. Munjerenjere, armed with a pistol, refused to surrender, leading to a tragic exchange of gunfire. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Parirenyatwa Hospital, his life cut short by the very actions that had defined his criminal career.
The death of Munjerenjere, however, did not mark the end of the police operation. Matutu, now in custody, revealed the identity of another gang member, Prosper Mutambudzi, who was subsequently lured to Epworth by the police. A confrontation ensued, ending in a fatal shootout that claimed Mutambudzi’s life.
The “Untouchables,” once a formidable force, were now scattered, their ranks decimated by a relentless police operation. The arrests and shootings, while tragic, served as a stark reminder of the consequences of a life lived on the wrong side of the law. The gang, once feared for their audacity and ruthlessness, had become victims of their own actions, their legacy one of violence and ultimately, defeat.
The police, in a statement, detailed the arsenal recovered from the gang, a chilling testament to their firepower: “a 303 Rifle serial number 6449 stolen from Exor service in Shamva, Star pistol serial number 14191 a 6.35 Benardelli VT pistol serial number 70727, Strybok pistol serial number ZA218739 stolen, Unique pistol serial number 646695, Walther pistol with erased serial numbers, Star pistol serial number 20601 all stolen from stolen from J and P security in Harare. Also recovered were 12 bore Pardus shotgun serial numbers 69H22PT00008 stolen from number 798 Acacia Road, Windsor Park and a 22 RG11 revolver serial number 8031 stolen from Maropafadzo Service Station in Murehwa.”
The arrests of the remaining gang members, including army Corporals Owen Mbayi, 37, Simbarashe Vhazhure, 33, as well as Sergeants Promise Mussa, 36 and Farai Chauke aged 38, along with Batsirai Hutsi, 21, and Innocent Chawaguta, 37, have brought a sense of relief to the city, a sense that justice has been served. The “Untouchables,” once thought to be beyond the reach of the law, have been brought to account, their reign of terror brought to a decisive end.
