Bulawayo – Six suspected armed robbers were killed in a dramatic shootout with detectives near the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls toll gate early Tuesday morning, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intensifies its crackdown on rising armed robberies across the country.
According to police reports, the suspects met their demise after resisting orders from law enforcement officers and opening fire, prompting a swift and decisive response.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident in a statement, reiterating the ZRP’s unwavering commitment to combating armed robbery syndicates. He warned that any form of confrontation by criminals would be met with appropriate force.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a shoot-out incident with six armed robbery suspects along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls tollgate on March 18, 2025 between 2am and 4am,” said Comm Nyathi.
The deadly encounter followed a robbery at the Young Money General Dealer shop in Insiza, where the suspects had allegedly spent the entire day monitoring the premises while posing as patrons.
Nyathi said in a statement: “The suspects spent the whole day monitoring and drinking beer at the Young Money General Dealer shop in Insuza. Later, they pounced on on the two bar attendants while armed with pistols, knives and axes.”
The suspects then pounced on the two shop attendants, armed with pistols, knives, and axes. They proceeded to tie the victims’ hands with electric cables, cover their faces with blankets, and demand cash and gold.
The suspects ransacked the shop, stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, groceries, a 48-volt lithium battery, an inverter, an amplifier, a nine-kilogramme gas tank, and several mobile phones.
“They demanded gold and cash. The suspects ransacked the whole shop and took away an unknown amount of cash, groceries, a 48 volts lithium battery, inverter, amplifier, a nine kilogrammes gas tank and cell phones,” said Comm Nyathi.
They loaded the loot into their getaway silver Honda Fit vehicle, registration (AEY 4843). and fled.
The shop owner, after being alerted to the robbery, promptly notified the police, setting in motion the chain of events that led to the fatal confrontation.
A police patrol spotted the Honda Fit vehicle as it approached the toll gate along the Victoria Falls Road. Detectives ordered the suspects to stop, but they resisted, attempting to ram through the boom gate.
“A check along Victoria Falls Road spotted the Honda Fit vehicle as it was moving towards the toll gate. Detectives ordered the suspects to stop and they resisted. The suspects went on to hit the boom gate at the toll gate,” said Comm Nyathi.
In the ensuing shootout, all six suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where they unfortunately succumbed to their injuries.
“They were arrested and taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals where they all unfortunately passed on,” said Comm Nyathi.
Following the shootout, police recovered two pistols with four live rounds, two gas-operated pistols, two knives, and an axe from the suspects’ vehicle. They also recovered some of the stolen property, including groceries, a lithium battery, an inverter, a nine-kilogramme gas tank, and an amplifier.
“The police recovered two pistols with four live rounds, two gas operated pistols, two knives and an axe. Some of the property stolen from the complainants, which include groceries, lithium battery and inverter, nine gas tank and an amplifier were recovered from the vehicle,” said Comm Nyathi.
“The ZRP reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robbery syndicates. Any form of confrontation will be responded to through appropriate measures,” Nyathi said.
In Harare, Officer Commanding Police in Harare Province, Commissioner Maxwell Chikunguru, issued a stern warning to criminals, declaring that law enforcement agents would not relent in their efforts to restore order.
Speaking at the handover ceremony for the refurbished ZRP Warren Park Police Station, Comm Chikunguru emphasized the need for increased vigilance and community involvement in combating crime.
“It is no longer safe to keep large sums of money at home or at business premises as we are witnessing alarming cases of safes being blasted or removed with their contents,” said Comm Chikunguru.
“To those who choose the path of crime, let me be clear: the full weight of the law will find you. It won’t be long before we round you up and take you where you belong, behind bars,” he said.
Although overall crime in Harare North District saw a slight decrease last year with 19 376 reported cases compared to 19 474 in 2023, the province continues to grapple with violent crime, particularly armed robberies.
Comm Chikunguru urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity.
“We need community input on who is involved in these crimes, where they are occurring, and everything else, so that we can effectively respond,”he said.
“We will not tolerate corruption in any form, regardless of where it may arise within our ranks.”
He commended officers in Harare North District, led by Chief Superintendent Ushe, for their efforts in keeping crime figures stable, despite the growing challenge of violent robberies.
Comm Chikunguru said effective policing requires community involvement and trust.
He urged officers to foster good relations with the public and said arrests should not be seen as a conflict between police and society.
Quoting British law enforcement pioneer Robert Peel, he said: “The community are the police and the police are the community.”
He praised the Warren Park community and its Crime Liaison Committee for their continued support, noting past contributions such as vehicle donations, fencing and construction of police facilities.
“With the strong support we have witnessed today, I am confident we will succeed. Let criminals know that it’s no longer business as usual,” he said.
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