Six nabbed over US$20 000 robbery of Primary School in Bonda

Harare (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested six suspects believed to have been part of a gang that pounced on a Primary School in Bonda, Mutasa district, Manicaland province and got away with over US$20 000 at the beginning of this month.

In a statement on Monday, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Stanley Zamazama (29), Caphas Mlambo (52), Raymond Kompilo (31), Chriss Chauke (48), Clever Sithole (27) and Luiz Sambasa (34) in connection with the robbery which occurred on an unnamed gravel road leading to Knowstics Primary School in Bonda on June 1.

Two other suspects remain at large.

Ass Com Nyathi said the suspects intercepted a Toyota Vitz and Toyota Wish vehicles that were travelling towards the school with three school employees and five students on board and robbed them of the cars and two smart phones.

“The suspects drove the stolen vehicles to Knowstics Primary School where they attacked the school director and robbed him of ZAR 2 000, US$3 000, 17 cell phones, 20 HP 14 series laptops and a gun cabinet with a 375mm rifle without ammunition. The loot was loaded in the two vehicles which the suspects used as get away vehicles. The total value stolen is US$20 000 and ZAR 2 000,” he said.

Police made follow up and eventually recovered the vehicles dumped along the Bonda-London Store Road, 10 cell phones three HP 14 series laptops as well as the gun cabinet and rifle.

Following a tip off, the police managed to arrest the suspects on June 16 and recovered eight laptops and two cell phones at the residence of Mlambo, Zamazama and Sithole in Checheche, Chisumbanje in Chipinge.

Ass Com Nyathi said investigations were continuing with a view to clearing more robberies believed to have been committed by the suspects whose gang leader Stewart Muchena of Manica Bridge is one of the two still at large.

New Ziana