By Panashe Hamudiwamwe
Police in Harare has arrested nine suspected armed robbers, who are linked to a string of armed robbery cases which occurred in and around Harare between October 25 and December 13, 2023.
The nine suspects are Misheck Takawira Njowa (24), Jonas Daniel Mubaiwa (22), Shadreck Njowa (20), Job Nyashadzaishe Njowa (26), Cloudious Pemberengwa (39), Shepherd Magorimbo (30), Sydney Takavada (40), John Amon Ndlovu (34) and Godwin Chawaguta (33).
In a statement, Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said on December 13 this year, detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad got information which linked some of the suspects to a robbery that occurred at around 0150hours in which a taxi driver lost a Toyota Porte registration number AFG9556, some cash and a cellphone to suspects who had hired him from town to Southerton.
“Detectives acted on the information and arrested the suspects at Dongo Village, Neshangwe in Sadza leading to the recovery of an AK rifle, cellphone, electric shocker, two kitchen knives, cables and a pair of handcuffs.
“The suspects implicated Pemberengwa and Ndlovu who were arrested at Duplex Flats, Old Highfield, Harare,” said Nyathi.
The pair fingered others as having participated in the robberies, leading to their arrests in Highfield, Glen Norah, Willowvale Flats, Zengeza 5 Extension and Chitungwiza.
The arrest led to the recovery of the gang’s getaway car, a Toyota Wish, a Vektor pistol with a magazine loaded with 8 x 9mm rounds, and a 303 rifle with 6 x 7.5mm rounds.
On December 14, Pemberengwa, Takavada, Ndlovu and Chawaguta led detectives to a bushy area along James Martin Road, Southerton where they alleged to have stashed firearms.
Upon arrival at the scene, suspects started to run in different directions and were each shot in the knees. The injured persons were rushed to the hospital where they are currently admitted.
The gang is linked to six robbery cases, including at a service station in Machipisa where US$1 366 was stolen and another garage in Hatfield where US$2 161 was stolen.
Meanwhile, in another incident, a suspected armed robber Butho Moyo of Bulawayo died on the scene while another one Otilia Ncube is battling for her life after being shot by the police on the 14th of this month.
The suspects are linked to the theft of motor vehicles in Bulawayo between October this year to December 14.
Circumstances are that on December 14, detectives from the CID vehicle theft squad received information that linked Moyo to the theft of motor vehicles. acting on the information, police followed Moyo who was accompanied by one Otilia Ncube in Cowdray Park and the two refused to comply with police orders resulting in a shoot-out.
Ncube is currently admitted to a hospital in Bulawayo.
