BULAWAYO – The fight against armed robbery in Zimbabwe took a dramatic turn on Sunday as two suspected criminals met their demise in a shootout with detectives in Bulawayo.
The incident, which unfolded in a bushy area between Mpilo Central Hospital and Richmond, left Aleck Moyo (37) and Bongani Tshuma (41) dead, bringing an end to their reign of terror.
Acting on intelligence, detectives from CID Homicide Bulawayo launched a raid on their hideout, where the suspects were attempting to evade arrest.
The encounter quickly escalated into a tense shootout as the suspects opened fire on the detectives. A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued, with the detectives ultimately overpowering the armed robbers.
The scene was littered with evidence of the confrontation, including a Cannic pistol with a magazine of four rounds and an Astra Revolver with two rounds, recovered from the suspects.
Both Moyo and Tshuma sustained gunshot wounds during the shootout. They were rushed to the United Bulawayo Group of Hospitals, but sadly succumbed to their injuries upon arrival.
The death of the two suspects marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against armed robbery in Zimbabwe. Police investigations have linked the duo to five separate armed robbery cases, spanning from March 6th to July 29th of this year.
One of the most high-profile cases involved the robbery of a home in Phatalika Village, Nyangazonke Sunyetsen, on May 7th. The suspects allegedly made off with household goods, a Honda CVR vehicle (registration number AEA 9034), and a Toyota Surf vehicle (registration number ABC 6251).
Another case, which occurred on July 29th in a bushy area in Old Nkulumane 12, Bulawayo, saw the suspects allegedly steal a Honda Fit vehicle (registration number ADX 7925) and three cellphones. The arrest and subsequent death of the suspects bring much-needed relief to the community, which had been living in fear of these criminals.
In the wake of this incident, police have vowed to intensify their efforts in combating armed robbery throughout the country. Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, reassured the public that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is committed to bringing perpetrators of crime to justice.
“The crack teams set up by the Zimbabwe Republic Police command are alert and will ensure that the law takes its course without fear or favour,” Nyathi stated.
