How Mine gold heist: three suspects nabbed

Harare (New Ziana) – THE police on Wednesday said they had arrested three suspects in connection with the robbery of 11.9 kilograms of gold which occurred on Tuesday morning, a few kilometers from How Mine, on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

A group of about 13 armed robbers pounced on a private security convoy that was transporting the gold worth over $600 000 from How Mine to Fidelity Printers, getting away with the yellow metal and four firearms after a shoot-out.

The robbery occurred at the 21 km peg along the Bulawayo-How Mine Road at around 0730 hours.

In an update, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they had arrested Antony Moyo (39), Wilson Mutandwa (24 and Ernest Mutandwa (30) in connection with the armed robbery.

“On the 4th of October 2022, Police received information that some of the stolen items were abandoned at a house under construction along Folly Road, West Summerton, Bulawayo. Detectives reacted to the report and recovered car keys, 3 by 9mm spent cartridges, a black glove, a 303 rifle loaded with eight live rounds and three empty metal boxes,” he said.

“Further investigations by the Police established that the South African registered Nissan NP 300 single cab vehicle, registration number HR30XJGP, which was abandoned by the suspects at the scene, belongs to Ximba Nkosilathi, also known as Tonderai Vumbunu, and was at times seen being driven by Antony Moyo. Police arrested Antony Moyo who implicated Wilson Mutandwa and Ernest Mutandwa, who were subsequently arrested. Ernest Mutandwa was arrested in Beitbridge while attempting to flee to South Africa.”

Nyathi said other suspects who include Abraham Vumbunu, Elijah Vumbunu, Israel Zulu, Diva (no further particulars known) and six others were still on the run.

“Armed robbery syndicates, including company employees and associates leaking information to criminals are warned that their days are numbered,” he said.

According to several online reports of eyewitness accounts, the robbers attacked and overwhelmed the security convoy.

A shoot out ensued after another vehicle in the mine security convoy arrived at the scene, but the robbers managed to escape, leaving behind one of their cars.

In previous robberies, police have suspected that the robbers had inside information about the intended movement of the targeted goods, which have mostly been cash and precious minerals.

New Ziana