The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata and Luthando Mapepa Post Reporters
AT LEAST seven armed robbery suspects have been arrested as the net closes fast on rabid criminal gangs that have hit several houses and businesses in Manicaland, looting hundreds of thousands in foreign currency, vehicles and a litany of valuables.
The marauding thugs, who are usually armed with pistols, machetes and iron bars, have in some of the cases gang raped victims.
As the robbers struck with reckless abandon, residents quacked in their shoes with many quickly turning their dwellings into strongholds to protect themselves from the criminals.
One of the suspects who masterminded heists in Chipinge has since been slapped with a 36-year jail sentence after he was convicted of three counts.
Officer Commanding Manicaland Police, Commissioner Dr Wiklef Makamache said a specialised crack team has since been put in place to deal with the robberies.
He said detectives were hot on the heels of the remaining suspects who would be rounded up soon.
“This special crack team is made up of officers who have special skills regarding this type of crime. They have since posted good results as evidenced by the arrest of these suspects,” he said.
“If you look at the profile of these suspects you will see that most of them are foreigners to Manicaland, who come from Harare and Chitungwiza to rob people here with the aid of a few local criminals. As such, we have sat down with traditional leaders and advised them to be mindful of new faces that come to seek shelter in their villages.”
Dr Makamache said the courts were speedily dealing with armed robbery cases as well as placing in remand prison some of the suspects who usually run away from justice after being granted bail.
“With the good relationship we are enjoying with the courts, we are on the right course to decisively deal with these robberies and put an end to this vice,” he said.
Detectives in Mutare recently arrested two suspects who confessed to executing robberies in the city, Penhalonga and Odzi.
“We are not going to unmask their identities as this will jeopardise ongoing investigations.
“Some of the complainants have come up and positively identified these suspects as the criminals who robbed them. They have confessed to some of the crimes and named accomplices they teamed up with to commit the crimes.
“They are giving us useful information that will definitely help us bring all involved culprits to book,” said a member of the crack team who requested anonymity.
Two more suspects who are linked to robberies in Manicaland have been arrested in Gweru and four more suspects are in remand prison in Bulawayo.
Efforts are in progress to transport them here and make them stand trial for crimes committed in this province.
The 28-year-old Chipinge suspect, Prosper Mwafaune, was last week slapped with a 36-year jail term for conniving with Harare-based armed robbers to pounce on three complainants in the district and vanished with money and valuables.
Mwafaune of Musapingura Village under Chief Musikavanhu appeared before regional magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing robbery charges.
He pleaded guilty to all the three counts.
Public prosecutor Mr Themba Dhliwayo said Mwafaune committed the crimes with five other suspects who are still in remand prison.
The State proved that on May 28, the gang which was armed with two pistols, iron bars and knives pounced at Mapuranga homestead.
“They pretended to be police officers and demanded to see Jacob Mapuranga. During the commotion they pointed the firearms at the victims and demanded cash.
“They assaulted everyone at the homestead and ransacked the house in search of cash. The gang took a bag containing various clothing items worth $750,” he said
Mr Dhliwayo said in pursuant to their mission, the gang organised another robbery.
“On June 10, the gang went to Zivachako homestead at Kondo Business Centre. They jumped over the precast wall and manhandled two male adults who were sleeping in the veranda.
“The criminals then manhandled the businesswoman Pamela Penyakufa and force marched her into her bedroom. They took US$24 000, R44 200 and RTGS$2 859 and went away,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said the gang then committed another robbery the following week at Chibuwe Business Centre.
“On June 28, the suspects pounced on Samuel Maadza’s homestead and stole R186 000 and RTGS$17 000,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said detectives managed to find a call history on one of the culprit’s cell phone and established that Mwafaune was the one who came up with the targets.
Of the sentence three years were suspended on condition of restitution and more three years were set aside on condition of good behaviour.
