Police Arrest Four Criminals Behind 200 Crimes Over Two Years, Including Armed Robberies And Rape

POLICE in Gweru have arrested four men suspected to be behind at least 200 crimes that they committed over two years, among them armed robberies and rape. They have been linked to robberies at gold mines and gang-rape of a woman who had travelled to Bulawayo to attend the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in April. A fifth man, thought to be the leader of the gang, is still on the run.

Detectives have reportedly solved dozens of robbery and rape offences in areas including Bulawayo, Nkayi, Murehwa, Shangani, Gwanda, Silobela, Gweru, Chegutu and Kwekwe following the arrest of the suspects on Thursday.

Yesterday, they went for indications at 33 crime scenes in Gweru. A victim identified one of the suspects at Zuva Service Station in Gweru and police reacted swiftly to catch all four.

Confirming the arrests yesterday, police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba identified the quartet as Ntandoyenkosi Sidumbu (23) and Bongeni Tshuma (28) both of Msilahobe Village, Chief Malisa, Silobela, Kelvin Masuku Moyo (18) and Lameck Busiso Masuku Moyo (30) of Somabhula Wida Farm Plot 8.

She said the suspects had already confessed to committing 33 crimes of robbery. She said police were yet to ascertain the actual number of cases and crimes committed by the robbers across the country.

Bangilizwe Nyathi, who is believed to be the ringleader, is still at large and police are hunting for him. “I confirm that we have arrested four accused persons in Gweru for a spate of armed robberies, unlawful entry and theft and rape cases.

“The accused persons have since admitted to having committed 33 cases around Gweru and police are yet to ascertain other cases that were committed in other areas across the country including Bulawayo.

“The accused persons are still assisting police with investigations,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba. Police sources said the gang boarded a haulage truck to Bulawayo early this year and along the way, they gang-raped a passenger who was also aboard the vehicle at gun point before robbing the driver of money and other valuables.

A police source told Chronicle that the first suspect was spotted near Zuva Service Station, formerly Wimpy, by the truck driver who they allegedly robbed early this year. The driver immediately alerted the police.

“Police swooped on the suspects and arrested them. They led police to various crime scenes where they robbed and raped people. The suspects have listed about 200 crimes that they committed around the country,” said a police source.

They also confessed to stabbing a police officer last year, the source said. “The officer, who is stationed at Nehanda Police in Gweru survived but was admitted to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare for a long time,” said the source.

“They also confessed that they raided mines at Cross Roads, Silobela where they stole gold. They said they sold the gold to purchase a white single cab Toyota Hilux, which they used to commit a majority of their crimes.”Richard Mwinde source-chronicle