adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE detectives in Beitbridge have arrested four notorious armed robbers who unleashed a reign of terror along the Beitbridge-Masvingo and Beitbridge-Bulawayo highways. The quartet had been operating on a 40km radius along these two major roads. National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the four had been arrested in connection with one case of murder and 15 cases of armed robberies.
He said the four were arrested on Christmas Day.
Chief Superintendent Nyathi identified the suspects as Taurai Gwande, also known as Tawanda Musekwa or Giant (30), Boniface Mushavati also known as Moyo, Clive Shumba (24) and Lehlohonolo Moyo.
“The gang had leashed a reign of terror on motorists travelling along major highways from Beitbridge which lead to Masvingo and Bulawayo.
“In most cases the accused persons drove donkeys onto the road resulting in the motorists reducing speed to avoid hitting the animals.
“The gang would take advantage and pierce the vehicles’ tyres using sharp objects causing tyre punctures and pounce on the victims as they come out to attend the tyres,” he said.
He said in most cases the gang wore blue worksuits and used axes, iron bars and logs to attack the motorists.
Chief Supt Nyathi said Musekwa and his accomplices pounced on 15 different motorists between 9 May and 19 December.
He said the suspects were targeted mainly cash, groceries, cellphones, laptops and other electrical gadgets.
“This is a major breakthrough as these criminals had become a danger to motorists. For instance, on 1 May they attacked a motorist along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road using the same method and stole property worth $2 242.
“On 26 June, they also pounced on other motorists and stole R40 600 and three Nokia cellphones.
“They also stole a Toyota Hilux and an assortment of groceries from another couple which they savagely attacked using the same weapons in August.
“The suspects used the same modus operandi in 15 different cases,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said on 19 December, the gang allegedly killed a 29-year-old man who had been in the company of his girlfriend in a car parked near St Joseph Primary School in Beitbridge.
“The suspects assaulted one Onward Chirambira and his girlfriend with iron bars before stealing a laptop and two cellphones. They also ran over him when he tried to stop them from driving away in his Toyota Carina,” he said.
He said the suspects ran out of luck on Christmas Day when Musekwa was arrested in Mvuma following a tip-off.
Following his arrest, Musekwa led the police to his accomplices, Mushavati, Moyo and Shumba and the subsequent recovery of the stolen property in Masvingo and their tools of trade.
“We recovered seven solar panels, six amplifiers, six cellphones, two disco speakers, one generator, two solar batteries, an assortment of groceries and clothing items.
“We also recovered their tools of trade; work suits, two axes, a machete, several iron bars, a torch and logs,” he said.
He said the suspects will soon appear in court charged with murder and 15 counts of armed robbery.
Chief Supt Nyathi said they were calling on members of the public to approach the officer commanding police in Beitbridge or the Criminal Investigations Department to identify some of the recovered property.
He said in light of an upsurge in cases of robberies along major highways, the police had increased patrols and surveillance of crime hotspots.
Online Reporter