Antony Chawagarira
HARARE – Police have arrested three suspects in connection with a series of armed robbery cases in Ruwa, Harare and Rusape, recovering cash, firearms, ammunition, and other suspected robbery equipment.
The suspects are Tinei Makaripe (47), Pungurayi Mukumbachaza, and Gabriel Mukambachaza (41), according to a police statement.
The arrests followed an armed robbery at a company in Borders Estate, Ruwa, where the suspects and their accomplices allegedly raided the premises at around 0030 hours on September 13 and escaped with US$108,000 after attacking and restraining company workers.
Makaripe was apprehended by company workers as the suspects fled when he fell while attempting to scale the perimeter wall. He was subsequently handed over to the police.
Further investigations by detectives led to the arrest of Mukumbachaza in Damofalls Phase 1, Harare, where police recovered US$4,900 hidden in his vehicle.
Mukambachaza was later arrested at his rural home in Rusape, where detectives recovered US$5,000, two pistols, and ammunition, among other items.
Police said the firearms included a Star pistol loaded with one round and a Tokarev pistol loaded with seven rounds. Detectives also recovered handcuffs, fuse cables, explosives, and three balaclavas.
Investigations established that the recovered Tokarev pistol had allegedly been stolen during an armed robbery at a steel company in Southerton on March 12 of this year.
The three suspects are also being linked to four other armed robbery cases.
Among the cases is a January 26 robbery at a beverages company in Rusape, where US$39,828, a Star pistol loaded with five rounds, pepper spray, handcuffs, and three cellphones were reportedly stolen.
Police also linked the suspects to the March 12 robbery at a steel company along Tilbury Road in Southerton, Harare, where US$14,118 was stolen.
Police said the suspects’ alleged accomplices, identified as Khule Diva, Mambo Dhuterere, Kasongo, and Senior Gama, were still on the run.
The reference to “Mambo Dhuterere” has attracted attention because Zimbabwean gospel musician Darlington Mutseta is popularly known by the same name.
However, police have not provided a real name for the person identified as Mambo Dhuterere and have not confirmed that the wanted suspect is the musician.
Therefore, there is no confirmation that the person named in the police statement is Darlington Mutseta, and the two should not be treated as the same person without further confirmation from the police.
Meanwhile, police have appealed for information to assist investigations into a separate murder and armed robbery in Bulawayo in which a businessman was shot dead and robbed of US$10,000.
The incident occurred on September 14 near a service station along JMN Nkomo Street, between Fourth and Third Avenue.
Police said Tadius Rutanhire (52) had just closed his shop and was walking towards his son’s vehicle when three unidentified suspects allegedly shot him with a pistol before fleeing with his bag, which contained the cash.
Members of the public with information that could assist the investigation have been urged to report to their nearest police station or contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197.
