Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A SUSPECT, who has been on the run since 2021 after the US$2,7 million ZB Bank robbery, has been nabbed after he was betrayed by his brother who squandered part of his loot from the heist.
Alfred Shumba had been hiding in South Africa since his gang struck and stole millions of dollars.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa after the police busted him following a tip-off from his brother after a fallout between the two brothers.
Shumba left part of the loot in the hands of his brother when he fled to South Africa.
However, the brother squandered it and, when Shumba confronted him demanding his money back, an ugly fallout, with severe consequences for him, erupted.
Allegations are that on January 6 2021, Shumba and his accomplices connived to rob cash-in -transit crew members carrying seven boxes containing cash amounting to US$2,775,000.
Fanuel Musakwa, who was one of the cash-in-transit crew members, would communicate updates of the journey to the gang of armed robbers.
The cash was meant to be distributed to ZB Bank branches in Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Fife Street Bulawayo Branch, Gwanda and Zvishavane.
Shumba was with other armed robbers and followed the cash-in-transit team from Harare on the way to Chinhoyi.
Along the way, the cash-in-transit crew members took one box containing ZW$43,090 at Inkomo tollgate, which was to be deposited at the bank.
The crew members drove off towards Chinhoyi and the driver picked three accomplices at Inkomo turn-off after Musakwa requested him to ferry them, pretending they were genuine passengers.
When they reached the 60 km peg, the driver stopped the car after being ordered by the gang members, who were in the cash-in-transit vehicle.
They produced a pistol, threatening to shoot the crew members.
Other gang members arrived in a red Toyota twin cab.
Most of those gang members who were in this car have already been arrested.
The gang was armed with various firearms.
They took a pistol and a rifle from the complainants.
They drove the car off the highway to a secluded place and offloaded the boxes of cash from the cash-in-transit vehicle and loaded them into the red Toyota Hilux.
The Hilux was being driven by Gerald Rutizirira.
They drove off from the scene, leaving the crew members behind.
Shumba and gang members went to some farms west of Nyabira where they broke the boxes and stole cash amounting to US$2,775,000 and ZW$43,090.
They shared the loot among themselves, before dumping the boxes.
