Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed the arrest of four suspects believed to be at the centre of a string of violent robberies that terrorized communities in Mhangura, Mashonaland West province, Shamva in Mashonaland Central and Murewa in Mashonaland East province between March 31 and April 21 this year.
In a statement on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Charles Dhokotera (42), Mayor Sibanda (34), Bothwell Kamwendo (40) and Trivolta Matunhu (20) were arrested following an armed assault at Nyamuzara Business Centre in Murewa on April 21.
“On the afternoon of 21 April, the suspects descended upon a general dealer and cocktail bar, their victims’ family and patrons, clad in camouflage and genuine police uniforms and armed with three rifles, a pistol and baton sticks,” he said.
“The assailants stole seven cellphones and USD 1 300 in cash before attempting to flee in a white Toyota Aqua, registration AGC 2677. Alert members of the public blocked the vehicle, prompting the driver to attempt a high‑speed getaway. The pursuit ended when the car suffered a tyre puncture, allowing officers, alerted by the complainants, to arrest Dhokotera at the scene.”
Under interrogation, Dhokotera implicated Sibanda, Kamwendo and Matunhu, who were subsequently arrested in Harare.
Commissioner Nyathi said acting on information provided by the quartet, investigators recovered a cache of stolen and military‑style items hidden in a bushy area near the Shavanhowe River in the Murewa Cross vicinity.
Property recovered includes seven pairs of camouflage uniforms, four pairs of combat boots, three army caps, a green jersey, handcuffs, baton sticks, a sjambok, reflectors, safety shoes, a .38 special revolver (without rounds), a double‑barrel shotgun loaded with five 12‑gauge cartridges, another shotgun loaded with five 12‑gauge rounds, and two 9 mm Retay blank‑firing pistols.
“The four suspects have been linked to additional violent robberies: first, at a mine in Mhangura on 31 March 2025, where they made off with 22 gold‑trapping mats measuring 1 m by 0.8 m and an undetermined number of 1 m by 0.6 m mats; and second, at a Shamva mine in Tafuna on 12 April, where 50 cellphones, 20 g of gold and USD 4 400 were stolen,” said Com Nyathi.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is now appealing to the public for information leading to the arrest of outstanding suspects identified as Raphael Gwaze, Bothwell Kamwendo, Keda and Dube.
Commissioner Nyathi praised the swift coordination between the public and police units, emphasising that community vigilance played a decisive role in bringing the suspects to justice.
He reiterated the commitment of the force to stamping out violent crime and urged citizens to remain alert and supportive of law enforcement efforts.
New Ziana
