Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
POLICE have reaffirmed that the extradition of suspects in the high-profile robberies, including the infamous US$4 million Ecobank heist from South Africa, is at an advanced stage.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, told Zimpapers that the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the judiciary, alongside their South African and Botswana counterparts, were concluding the matter.
He said due to the complexity and nature of the matter, police are involved with their counterparts in ensuring that the suspects are not implicated or involved in any other crimes.
“Police don’t work in isolation. The process involves legal parameters and must be handled in the utmost care. “We must make sure that all channels are followed to the core. We don’t want any loopholes in addressing this matter,” said Comm Nyathi.
He likened the process to jailed serial killer Peter Dube, who was extradited from Ireland following his dramatic escape from Zimbabwe, evading the law.
“In the same vein, you should remember the case of Princess Shoko, where a married couple was extradited from South Africa back to Zimbabwe this year to face justice for killing their four-year-old niece in 2023 before skipping the country,” said Comm Nyathi.
“John Zvivi (36) and Alista Sibanda (35) were transported back into Zimbabwe following their arrest in South Africa.”
Four suspects have so far been nabbed in connection with the Ecobank crime, with three awaiting extradition.
Two of the suspects, brothers Abraham Tendayi and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu were arrested in South Africa in July this year while hiding in South Africa, nearly 10 months after they robbed the bank in Bulawayo last year.
A third suspect, Bhekani Mlilo, a 39-year-old, was arrested while trying to sneak into Botswana from South Africa.
Mlilo was apprehended during the same month by authorities in Botswana as he attempted to enter the country from South Africa.
A fourth suspect, who is believed to have been at the helm of the robbery, a former security guard Sibonginkosi Sibanda (49), is at present languishing in remand prison awaiting trial in the matter.
He is facing a money laundering charge, after police admitted they had no evidence linking him to the heist. However, they accused him of being part of the syndicate, saying he procured several properties with the “spoils” of the heist.
The robbery rocked Zimbabwe last October, setting social media abuzz with speculation from many people about how this happened.
Despite some criticism, the Zimbabwean police, just like a duck, kept calm on the surface while peddling fiercely underneath with investigations.
This high-profile armed robbery involving the theft of US$4,4 million from the Ecobank branch happened on October 3 at the corner of Fife Street and 9th Avenue at around 3.30pm.
The incident considered the biggest cash heist in Zimbabwean history, lasted a mere 149 seconds.
According to police, seven armed robbers audaciously seized three trunks containing a staggering US$4 442 000 after a Safeguard cash-in-transit vehicle was ambushed and robbed at the bank.
Apart from the cash, the armed robbers also stole three guns belonging to the security company. The guns included two pistols and a shotgun.
The robbers, who arrived at the scene in a white Ford Ranger pickup truck bearing the registration number AGP 2333, were armed with guns, wearing face masks and bucket hats. They used the truck to make their getaway after they swiftly launched their attack.
The suspects approached the cash-in-transit team, assaulted the details with the butt of AK-47 rifles they were carrying, and disarmed the security team.
Soon after the robbery, social media was abuzz with rumours about the alleged capture of the robbers.
One of the biggest cash heists includes the 2021 Gwebi River Bridge cash-in-transit robbery on the Harare-Chirundu highway when US$2,7 million was stolen.
derick.khumalo