Luke Zinyengere who robbed Quest Financial Services of US$720,000 exchanges gunfire with prison guards, steals car at court and flees from custody

Harare – In a brazen act reminiscent of a Hollywood action film, Luke Zinyengere (29), a suspect previously arrested in connection with the high-profile US$720,000 robbery of Quest Financial Services, staged a daring escape from the Harare Magistrates Court on Friday. Zinyengere, armed with a pistol, exchanged gunfire with prison wardens before robbing a vehicle and fleeing the scene, prompting a massive police manhunt.

The incident unfolded as Zinyengere and other inmates were being escorted into a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) van following a court session. It was then that Zinyengere made his move, engaging in a shootout with the prison officers before commandeering a car and making his escape from the court premises.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident and the subsequent launch of a manhunt to apprehend Zinyengere. In a statement released this weekend, Commissioner Nyathi said: “The ZRP confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with the escape from lawful custody and alleged armed robbery incident of a Mazda Demio vehicle at Harare Magistrates Court on 21st March 2025.”

Commissioner Nyathi added: “The police is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Luke Zinyengere, 29, who used a pistol and robbed a vehicle to escape from the court after engaging in a shootout with prison officers.”

He further assured the public that “comprehensive investigations are underway to establish what actually happened in this incident.”

Zinyengere first made headlines last year when he was arrested along with six other suspects in connection with the audacious robbery of Quest Financial Services in Belgravia, Harare, where a staggering US$720,676, ZAR 10,500, and Euro 120 were stolen, along with a 7.65 mm CZ Vzor pistol and three laptops.

According to a statement released by the ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in February of last year, the arrested suspects were identified as Brighton Chikukwa (28), Silence Matambo (29), Washington Mangwanda (23), Liberty Mukanganise (31), Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (25), and Luke Zinyengere (28).

Following their arrest, detectives managed to recover US$50,600 in cash, thanks to information provided by Tafadzwa Richard Marondera and Luke Zinyengere, who were apprehended in Glenview. Investigations revealed that Marondera had received US$35,000 as his share of the loot, while Zinyengere pocketed US$25,000.

Police also seized a Mark X vehicle, registration number AFR 7059, which Zinyengere had purchased for US$11,000, along with an iPhone 14 Pro Max bought for US$1,300 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max acquired for US$1,500.

However, Zinyengere’s criminal activities did not end there. In June of last year, he and his accomplice, Tafadzwa Richard Marondera, found themselves back in court, facing fresh charges related to the robbery of an iPhone cell phone dealer.

Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (21) and Luke Zinyengere (28) appeared before Harare senior magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, charged with robbery. The complainant in this case was identified as Tinashe Kelvin Leon Chikove.

Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on January 22, at around 8 pm, Marondera, Zinyengere, and other accomplices still at large, robbed Chikove, a second-hand cell phone dealer at Ximex Mall in Harare.

The court heard that the pair, armed with a .22 rifle and a Mod 92 Pistol, ambushed Chikove at his residence as he returned from town. Chikove arrived driving a blue Honda Fit, accompanied by Tinotenda Gatsi, when the accused persons confronted them at the gate.

The robbers ordered both Chikove and Gatsi to hand over bags containing iPhone cell phones. Gatsi complied, surrendering a bag containing various iPhone models. The assailants then assaulted Chikove and stole a bag containing two iPhone 15 Plus cell phones, an iPhone 13 ProMax, an iPhone 14 ProMax, two iPhone 13s, an iPhone XS Max, another iPhone 13 ProMax, an iPhone 14 Pro, and an iPhone 14 cell phone.

During the robbery, Chikove attempted to fight back, but the accused persons fired shots, narrowly missing him. They dragged Chikove approximately 90 metres from the main gate and shot him in the left thigh before fleeing the scene.

Chikove alerted his friends, who rushed him to ZRP Hatfield, where he filed a report. Police attended the scene and recovered four 9mm spent blank cartridges, two .22mm LR spent blank cartridges, one 9mm live blank cartridge, and one .22mm LR live cartridge. Chikove was taken to Mbuya Dorcas Hospital for medical treatment before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Zinyengere’s dramatic escape from custody has raised serious questions about security protocols at the Harare Magistrates Court and the ZPCS. Authorities are under pressure to swiftly apprehend the fugitive and bring him to justice. The public is urged to provide any information that may lead to his arrest to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.