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Freeman Razemba
Crime Reporter
NINE suspected armed robbers, whose reign of terror spanned Harare and Bulawayo, have been apprehended in a series of swift and strategic operations by a police crack team.
These arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against violent crime, with seven suspects detained in Harare and two in Bulawayo.
National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were committed to combating armed robberies.
The Harare arrests stemmed from a brazen attack on January 20, 2025, at a company in Southerton.
In the early hours of the morning, a gang broke in and made off with a safe containing US$12 000 in cash, a Nissan NP300 vehicle, a CCTV digital recorder, an HP laptop, and other valuables.
The suspects, now identified as Tapiwanashe Bakasa (30), Rodgers Magreen (28), Tinashe Thompson (30), Tatenda Mashayamombe (29), Peter Mahwite (49), Anymore Gatsi (38), and Wilson Masvosve (35), were tracked down by detectives from CID Homicide following a series of careful operations.
The stolen vehicle was discovered abandoned at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Road and Julius Nyerere Street in the heart of Harare’s Central Business District.
Crucial intelligence led detectives to a house in Mufakose, where the suspects had temporarily stashed the vehicle before discarding it. This marked the beginning of a coordinated takedown.
Bakasa was the first to be apprehended, along with the recovery of a safe containing company documents and the stolen CCTV recorder. His arrest triggered a domino effect, implicating Magreen, who was later arrested in Stoneridge. Magreen’s capture yielded US$1 565 in cash and the stolen HP laptop.
Magreen’s confession led investigators to Thompson, who was apprehended at Chibwe Shopping Centre. A search uncovered a Unique pistol with an empty magazine, pepper spray, an Okapi knife, US$800 in cash, and a motorcycle purchased with stolen funds.
The remaining suspects—Mashayamombe, Mahwite, Gatsi, and Masvosve—were arrested in Mbare later that day, completing the Harare chapter of this operation.
Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, detectives from CID Homicide zeroed in on two suspects linked to a daring robbery that saw R158 160 and US$9 339 stolen from a gaming outlet on January 14, 2025.
The suspects, Nkiwane Nomzamo (42) and Taurai Alfred (43), ambushed a company employee transporting the money to Harare. Acting on intelligence, detectives tracked the duo to Nkulumane, where they were apprehended, and R3 600 alongside US$40 in cash was recovered.
Investigations revealed that Alfred, a former security guard at the gaming company’s Harare headquarters, had provided inside information to orchestrate the heist.
Comm Nyathi lauded the public’s assistance in supplying critical information that led to these arrests, stressing the importance of community collaboration in curbing crime.
He urged businesses and individuals to prioritise safety and avoid transporting large sums of money without adequate security measures. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activities via the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp at 0712 800 197.
These arrests, a testimony to the relentless efforts of law enforcement and the vigilance of the public, deliver a resounding message that crime has no refuge, and justice will prevail.
Online Reporter