Moffat Mungazi
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
DETECTIVES in Mutare have arrested three notorious armed robbers who brutally murdered a taxi driver they had hired, stole his vehicle, and set it ablaze in Honde Valley.
The trio were apprehended last week for their heinous crimes, bringing an end to their reign of terror.
The suspects — Tawona Taundi (28), of Molifi Village in Domboshava, Givemore Garaipasi (40), of Kamuzhanje Village, Arda Transau and Privilege Masvikeni, of Sahumani Village in Mutasa — were arrested last week.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrests, and revealed that the trio used an AK-47 rifle to fatally shoot Rodgers Murimbechi (46) in Penhalonga.
He said investigations showed that the three had stolen a rifle from a security guard at a gold mine in Mozambique, before crossing into Zimbabwe to commit the offence.
“On April 16, detectives picked up information on the whereabouts of Givemore Garaipasi, and tracked him to Arda Transau, where he was arrested together with Taundi. Masvikeni was later arrested. Investigations also revealed that the suspects, on April 11, crossed into Mozambique, with two other people and proceeded to Nyamashato Gold Mine where they robbed a security guard an AK47 rifle with a loaded magazine. They later crossed into Zimbabwe to commit the offence.
“The accused persons led detectives to a mountain in Arda Transau where they recovered the rifle with a loaded magazine. The magazine had 17 rounds of ammunition, and was wrapped in a white sack hidden under a big rock that was covered with leaves,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said the murder of the taxi driver happened last week when the suspects approached Ronald Simbarashe Mazura (20) and Rodgers Murimbechi offering to pay US$20 as taxi fare if they transported them to Muchena Business Centre.
However, the suspects had a hidden agenda.
It is alleged that when they were along Nyahunga Bridge, one of the accused pulled out the firearm from the sack, and pointed it at Murimbechi, who was driving and ordered him to stop the car.
When the car stopped, both Murimbechi and Mazura were instructed to lay on the ground and surrender all their valuables.
“When Murimbechi was asked to stop the vehicle at gunpoint, he complied. The trio ordered then to lay on the ground and asked them to surrender their belongings. Murimbechi handed over an undisclosed amount of money and his cellphone. After that, they were ordered to get back in the car, and one of the suspects took over as the driver,” he said.
The accused drove the car, turning onto a dusty road leading to Mutare Board and Paper Mills Estate, covering about 400 meters. When they reached the Drenan Turn-off, the captives were ordered out of the car again.
“At a spot near Drenan Turn-off, the accused stopped the car and ordered Muzura and Murimbechi to get out and lie on the ground. While Mazura complied, Murimbechi remained seated. In a savage act, one of the robbers shot Murimbechi several times on the stomach. The robbers quickly fled from the scene with the Honda Fit, Registration Number AFF7694 to an unknown destination,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Murimbechi was bleeding from the stomach, and Mazura ran towards Mutare Board and Paper Mill Estate seeking help. When he returned to the scene, Murimbechi had died, and the body was ferried to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
Online Reporter