Bulawayo witnessed a brazen daylight robbery on Thursday afternoon, leaving the city reeling and marking what police are calling Zimbabwe’s largest ever cash heist.
Six masked robbers, armed with pistols and AK47s, made off with an estimated US$4 million from an Ecobank branch housed in the NRZ Building.
The audacious crime, unfolding at approximately 3:30 PM on a busy Bulawayo street, has sparked intense speculation and a major police investigation.
The robbery unfolded with chilling efficiency. A Safeguard security van, having just collected several metal cash boxes from the Ecobank branch at the corner of Fife Street and 9th Avenue, became the target of the well-organised gang.
Witnesses described how the robbers, wearing face masks and bucket hats, swiftly surrounded the security vehicle. Armed with AK47s, they overpowered the guards, seizing the cash boxes with remarkable speed and precision.
Shocking footage, circulating widely on social media, captures the scene. In one video, a bystander is heard exclaiming, “Where is the police?” as the robbers calmly load the cash boxes into the open cargo bay of a waiting white Ford Ranger single-cab vehicle.
The getaway vehicle, bearing the number plate AGP2333 (later discovered to belong to a Mazda Demio), then sped off along Fife Street towards 10th Avenue. The brazen nature of the heist, occurring in broad daylight and within a short distance of the Bulawayo Central Police Station, has stunned the city.
A bank employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the money was destined for Harare. “The money was being taken to Harare by Safeguard security,” they explained. “The robbers took the money from the security guards’ hands outside the bank when they were about to load it into the car,” the employee added.
Another individual, claiming to be a bank manager, later told journalists that the stolen amount was closer to US$5 million, further adding to the scale of the audacious theft. This claim also included the detail that a customer was in the process of depositing US$100,000 at the time of the robbery.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and the estimated amount stolen. “Initial indications are that US$4 million cash has been stolen,” he stated.
Significantly, he added, “The manner in which this robbery occurred shows an element of an inside job or leakage of information.” He assured the public that investigations were underway and that “the law will take its course without fear or favour.”
The police investigation is focusing on several key aspects. Police sources indicated that Central Investigations Department teams, usually deployed for major crimes, were hampered by a lack of fuel. Interviews with bank staff and Safeguard personnel continued late into the night.
A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “We’re pursuing some leads.”
Another source mentioned Elijah Vumbunu, one of Zimbabwe’s seven most wanted criminals, as a potential suspect. Vumbunu, known for his involvement in high-profile armed robberies, including the October 2022 heist of a gold convoy near Bulawayo, is believed to be operating from South Africa.
The proximity of the crime scene to the Bulawayo Central Police Station has also raised questions. Videos show a uniformed police officer walking past the robbery in progress, raising concerns about response times and potential lapses in security.
The incident eclipses the 2021 Gwebi River Bridge cash-in-transit robbery, where US$2.7 million was stolen, highlighting the escalating boldness and sophistication of armed robberies in Zimbabwe. The investigation into this audacious heist is ongoing, with the police determined to bring those responsible to justice.
The sheer scale of the theft and the apparent ease with which it was executed underscore the need for a comprehensive review of security protocols and the potential involvement of insiders.
