Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, [email protected]
POLICE in Matabeleland North have arrested a gang of suspected armed robbers, including a soldier and a policeman, for allegedly robbing banks including ZB Bank Victoria Falls branch in 2022.
The accused are Derren Tshuma (25) of 1625 Empumalanga in Hwange, Proud Gumbo (30), of Chezhou Primary School in Dete and is employed by the Zimbabwe National Army at 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange, Mxolisi Sibanda (still at large), Thamsanqa Moyo (33) a police officer stationed at ZRP Traffic and resides at Dete Camp, Michael Donald Sibanda (26) of Chibondo Extension, Hwange and is employed by Redmart Transport and Logistics as a fork lift operator, and Majority Ndlovu (26) years of Don Bosco area in Hwange.
Proud Gumbo is suspected to be the lone armed robber that robbed ZB Bank in November 2022 when he stormed the banking hall and left with more than US$15 000 after ordering staff and clients to lie down at gun point.
According to a police report, the six were arrested after a failed armed robbery at Bank ABC Kamativi Branch on Tuesday.
The six face a charge of attempted robbery while Gumbo faces a separate charge of armed robbery.
Circumstances are that the accused planned to rob the bank as soon as it opens on Tuesday morning as it was a pay day for workers in the mines who use BANCABC Bank for their salaries.
A police team comprising CID Homicide, PSTT and Canine Unit was dispatched.
There was a huge queue of clients at the bank.
At around 12:50pm a gun shot was heard in front of the bank.
The suspects were seen fleeing in different directions and alert police gave chase and arrested Tshuma who was armed with a Columbian knife.
During investigations, police established that Gumbo was the one who allegedly robbed ZB Bank in Victoria Falls in 2022 where he stole US$15 964.
It was also established that Gumbo and Sibanda are the ones that allegedly robbed Mac Motors Garage in Hwange on 5 May 2024 where they stole cellphones and cash.
Tshuma, Gumbo and Sibanda also allegedly robbed Emabhizeni Bar in Lwendulu Village inHwange on 2 June 2024 where Gumbo who is a Lance Corporal fired one shot and they stole cash and cellphones.
They also allegedly committed an armed robbery on 30 June 2024 at Priceline Pharmacy in Hwange where they stole cash.
They also stormed Total Service Station in Hwange on 8 January 2024 where they stabbed an attendant twice with an okapi knife on the back and on the left arm while pointing a gun at him, before searching and stealing US$72 cash.
Police recovered some spent cartridges and a National Identity Card belonging to one of the victims of the armed robberies.
Gumbo was arrested on Wednesday after police got wind that he was at Cross Dete looking for transport to Bulawayo as he tried to flee.
Upon his arrest, police recovered a Browning Pistol which he had wrapped in a cloth and concealed in a bush area about 500 metres from Cross Dete along Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road.
He told police that the pistol is a service pistol which he got from his station.
Gumbo implicated Moyo, Sibanda and Ndlovu as his accomplices and that they had committed another crime at Songwa area along Cross Dete-Binga road and used Moyo’s vehicle.
Moyo was arrested at his place of residence.
Ndlovu was arrested after initially attempting to flee resulting in police shooting him on the leg after he ignored three warning shots. He was taken to hospital and his condition is stable.
Sibanda was arrested at his place of residence and his vehicle which was used during the foiled armed robbery was seized.
Mxolisi Sibanda is still at large.
The suspects were expected to appear in court but a warrant of further detention was sought at the Victoria Falls and Hwange magistrates’ Court to allow further investigations.
-@ncubeleon
Online Reporter