Harare, (New Ziana) – A dramatic gun battle between police detectives and armed robbery suspects left four suspects dead and two detectives seriously injured in Norton on Friday.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide had tracked down suspected members of a robbery syndicate that had entered Zimbabwe from South Africa planning to commit crimes in Harare, Bulawayo and Kwekwe.

“As the detectives were following, the suspects fired at them resulting in a serious exchange of fire near Norton Tollgate, along Harare-Bulawayo Road,” Nyathi said.

The exchange of gunfire left four suspects dead, including two foreign nationals, while two detectives sustained serious injuries and are admitted to a local hospital.

Following the confrontation, police recovered the gang’s getaway vehicle, a Toyota Axio, as well as two pistols — a Girsan 9mm Parabellum pistol with two rounds and another 9mm pistol with one round. Also recovered were a pair of Relay grey army green shoes and a black navy-blue jacket inscribed “Grey Wolf.”

Investigations have since linked the suspects to at least five armed robbery cases committed between 25 June and 3 October 2025 in Harare and Bulawayo. Among them is a 30 September robbery at a Harare hospital where CCTV footage captured one of the suspects wearing the recovered shoes and jacket. In that raid, USD 1 833 and airtime vouchers worth USD 140 were stolen.

The gang is also implicated in a June 25 robbery in Njube, Bulawayo, where USD 8 000 and an iPhone were stolen.

Nyathi reirated that police will not relent in the fight against armed robbery gangs terrorizing communities.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robbery cases in the country. All syndicates, whether locally or foreign-based, will be decisively dealt with in line with the country’s laws,” he warned.
New Ziana