Seven nabbed for rape, robbery

Arron Nyamayaro

A gang of seven armed robbers suspected of raping their victims were arrested on Friday.

Prince Dube, 23, Maxwell Karoterote, 28, Dennis Tshuma, 24, Lloyd Makiwa, 28, Maxwell Sikanyika, 36, Brian Sibanda, 32, and Tinashe Gandawa, 27, were arrested in connection with five armed robberies, rape, unlawful entry into premises and theft which occurred in Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Mhangura.

Two of their accomplices, Brian Bhamu and Tafadzwa, popularly known as T One, are on the run, and police are appealing for information that may lead to their arrest.

The cases were committed between January 10 and January 24 this year.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrests.

“Police arrested seven suspects in connection with armed robbery and rape cases committed in Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Mhangura.

“Circumstances were that on January 23, detectives in Chinhoyi arrested the suspects after receiving information that the suspects were seen sharing some groceries stolen at a shop in Chinhoyi.

“The arrest led to the recovery of groceries ranging from several cartons of cooking oil, washing powder, and an HP pro-book laptop.

“Further investigations by the police led to the recovery of the suspects’ gateway Honda Fit vehicle registration (AFS 9185), a sword, two machetes, two Colombian knives, seven cellphones, a pellet gun, one set of silver pots, two vehicle wheels, a 32 inch Hisense television and a 12 volts battery.

“The suspects were linked to cases of rape and robbery in which some groceries, US$35 and three cellphones were stolen from a couple before the wife was raped on January 10 at a house in Chinhoyi,” said Ass-Comm Nyathi.

In another case, which occurred on January 14, the suspects pounced on a house at Golden Kopje in Chinhoyi, where they attacked four people with machetes before stealing US$500, a cellphone and 10g of gold amalgam.

On January 16, the suspects pounced on a homestead at Ngoroma village in Mhangura where they attacked a man and his two wives with a machete before stealing a Nissan Note vehicle, US$1 000, three cellphones, a bag, sewing machine, various shoes and clothes.

Ass Comm Nyathi said on January 18, the suspects pounced on a couple’s house at a farm in Eiffel Flats, Kadoma, where they stole a Toyota RunX vehicle, US$500, 600 Pula, R500, two cellphones and a Hisense 32-inch TV.

“The police established that the suspects recruited close relatives of their targets as informers to supply them with information on the current financial status of the victims.”