A major blunder by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has cast a shadow over the investigation into last week’s US$4 million Ecobank robbery in Bulawayo.
The ZRP’s naming of Israel Zulu as one of the six suspects involved in the Thursday heist has been met with widespread confusion and criticism, given that the police publicly confirmed Zulu’s death in a shootout with police in October 2023.
However, the inclusion of Israel Zulu on this list has raised serious questions. A previous ZRP statement, released in October 2023, detailed a shootout between police and two armed robbery suspects, Israel Zulu and David Dausi Takawira, near Manyame River in Harare. The statement, issued following the incident, unequivocally stated that both suspects died upon admission to Sally Mugabe Hospital. The statement read:
“SHOOTING INCIDENT AT MANYAME RIVER, SOUTHLEA PARK, HARARE
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a shooting incident involving two armed robbery suspects, Israel Zulu (50) and David Dausi Takawira (43), which occurred on 17th October 2023 at Manyame River, Southlea Park, Harare.
“The shooting incident follows the arrest of the suspects in Mutare on 16th October 2023. The suspects revealed to detectives from CID Homicide, Harare that they hid firearms in a bushy area near Manyame River, Southlea Park. Upon arrival at the scene, the suspects tried to escape while taking advantage of the current weather situation, leading to a shootout. Subsequently, the suspects were shot by the detectives and were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital where they died upon admission.
“The suspects and their accomplices are linked to ten armed robbery cases which occurred between 2019 and October 2022 in Harare and Bulawayo, including a case of robbery which occurred on 13th November 2019 at business premises along College Road Mount Pleasant, Harare where a security guard was attacked before US$ 362 00.00 and ZWL$ 28 539.00 cash were stolen.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has made it clear that, those who commit crime will be arrested. Police crack teams are on full alert and will deal decisively with criminal elements linked to armed robbery cases,” reads the statement released by police in October last year.
This statement clearly indicates that Israel Zulu was confirmed dead over a year ago. The naming of a deceased individual as a suspect in a crime that occurred in October 2024 represents a significant error, undermining public confidence in the ZRP’s investigative capabilities. The discrepancy raises concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation and the accuracy of information released to the public.
The ZRP has not yet commented on this glaring contradiction.
The ZRP subsequently launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects, confirming their collaboration with South African authorities and Interpol. The police named the suspects involved in the Ecobank heist as Elijah Vumbunu (alias Mupositori), David Sawadye, Israel Zulu (now deceased), Kudakwashe Mudzingwa (alias Umbro), Takafa Vumbunu (alias Naison Mahembe), Paul Chinake, and Brian Murape. These individuals are believed to be Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa.
Below are the faces of the 6 suspects named by the police:
Addressing journalists, Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province Commissioner Wiklef Makamache provided an update on the investigation:
“We are working together as a team and through our CID Headquarters we have been able to engage the other side of the border and we are still pursuing the matter.
“Once we are done with the investigations we will bring the cake to you for consumption, please don’t speculate, some were already indicating that these robbers have already been shot dead, some were suggesting that it was done in Plumtree, some were already saying the recovery rate was US$20,000 the rest is nowhere to be found but the truth of the matter is our investigation process is still ongoing our teams are right on the ground from day one and we are looking forward to apprehending the culprits.”
