Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Crime Reporter
For Zimbabweans who have watched their communities live in fear of armed robberies, 2025 brought a measure of relief as the country’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Crack Teams went on the offensive, targeting some of the nation’s most notorious criminals.
Despite a slight uptick in armed robbery cases last year, police recorded significant victories, arresting 531 suspects between January and August — 206 of whom have already been convicted, with many more cases still before the courts.
Some fugitives were captured within Zimbabwe, while others were tracked down across the region, showing just how far the law enforcement net can reach.
Among the most high-profile arrests were the elusive Vumbunu brothers — prime suspects in the audacious US$4 million Ecobank gun heist in Bulawayo in 2024.
Abraham Tendayi and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu were apprehended in South Africa nearly 10 months after the robbery, thanks to intelligence sharing with South African authorities and INTERPOL.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the force was leaving no stone unturned in bringing culprits to justice.
“The Commissioner-General of Police (Stephen Mutamba) has set up crack teams to track and disrupt the flow of illicit firearms. Regular checks are being carried out at police stations to update firearm ownership records. The computerisation of the firearm registration process will also assist in tracking the abuse of firearms,” he said.
Comm Nyathi revealed that the firearms used in robberies come from various sources — smuggled across borders, stolen from commercial guards, vehicles, homes or misused from licensed owners.
“Some are smuggled into the country through illegal ports of entry and exit along our borders,” he said. “Others are stolen from guards at commercial premises, vehicles and homes.
“Some are licensed firearms stolen due to negligence by the owners, or through misuse by family members of deceased licence holders.”
CID Crack Teams have also undergone rigorous training to handle high-profile crimes.
In May, 63 detectives completed a 45-day intensive investigation course, learning advanced tracking, response and forensic skills to tackle armed robbery, murder, car theft and cybercrime.
This investment in skills bore fruit with the arrests of other suspects linked to organised crime, including Bhekani Mlilo, caught attempting to cross into Botswana from South Africa, and a syndicate in Bulawayo — Mtandazo Ndlovu, Amard Ncube and Solomon Ngwenya — accused of a string of armed robberies, including a US$500 000 heist in Harare CBD.
“The Vumbunu brothers are also suspected to be connected to several other high-profile crimes, including the Mukuru money heist, the How Mine gold robbery, which ended in a dramatic shootout, and a series of car jackings and home invasions in Bulawayo and beyond,” said the police.
Justice also came swiftly at home.
In January 2025, three notorious criminals from Masvingo, responsible for 14 armed robbery cases in a single day, were sentenced to a combined 345 years in jail.
Clever Svuure received 95 years, while Vusumuzi Bhebhe and Yasin Joseph were each sentenced to 125 years.
Even as criminals were apprehended, the toll on officers has been sobering.
In March, Sergeant Abel Masava was shot in the head while attending a crime scene in Bulawayo’s Tshabalala suburb and died shortly after.
In October, Constable Courage Muchechesi was fatally shot at the Sanyati Police Station while recording a statement.
“The nation was shocked by these tragic losses, but our officers continue to risk their lives to keep communities safe,” said Comm Nyathi.
Crackdowns were not limited to urban centres.
Police foiled a planned gold robbery at Beatrice mine, recovering a 9mm Deryia pistol and two magazines.
In Mutare, Marshal Munashe Munyuru was arrested for stealing three high-end vehicles linked to previous crimes in 2023 and 2024.
Across the country, law enforcement action continued relentlessly.
More criminals were arrested in separate operations, while others met their end in shootouts with police.
Yet the fight against armed robbery has not been without sacrifice.
Some officers were seriously injured in the line of duty and tragically, others lost their lives confronting heavily armed suspects.
In March, the city of Bulawayo mourned the death of Sergeant Abel Masava, who was shot while attending a crime scene in Tshabalala suburb.
Reports indicate that Sgt Masava, accompanied by another officer and two complainants, confronted a group of five men passing by.
When he inquired about their presence, one of the suspects drew a firearm and shot him in the head.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival, leaving colleagues and the community in shock.
Then in October, Constable Courage Muchechesi was killed in cold blood while performing routine duties at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Sanyati Charge Office.
The 41-year-old suspect, Vengesai Jabulani Mutasa, shot Constable Muchechesi in the stomach around 2am with an unlicensed firearm. Mutasa was arrested a few days later, following the coordinated efforts of community members from Patchway, Chakari, Sanyati and Kadoma who worked alongside the police to track him down.
Mutasa was also linked to the murder of Ruwa businessman Joseph Mutangadura in August, with Comm Nyathi confirming that the unlicensed gun he used was involved in both killings.
The death of Mr Mutangadura during an armed robbery at his farm sparked national outrage, a grim reminder of the human cost of violent crime.
Despite these tragedies, police have continued to pursue justice with determination.
To date, eight suspects connected to these incidents have been arrested and are facing the courts, signalling that the long arm of the law is closing in on those who terrorise communities.
From the dramatic shoot outs to the cross-border manhunts, 2025 has shown that Zimbabwe’s police are evolving, — combining intelligence, technology, and sheer determination to dismantle organised crime networks that have long terrorised citizens.
For communities that once lived in fear, the message is clear: the CID Crack Teams are hitting hard, and the days of unchecked armed robberies may be numbered.
