Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
ECOBANK Zimbabwe has launched a high-stakes US$4 million recovery mission nearly a year after armed robbers pulled off one of the country’s biggest cash heists at its Parkade Centre branch!
The 3 October 2024 daylight robbery saw gunmen storm the financial institution, escaping with a fortune in cold hard cash — leaving the bank scrambling to boost security and account for the massive loss in its 2024 financial reports.
Thursday, 3 April 2025 marks exactly six months since the brazen US$4 million Ecobank robbery rocked Bulawayo, leaving the city in disbelief as masked men ambushed a security detail, stole millions in cash, and vanished without a trace. The robbery, which unfolded in broad daylight, was witnessed by many — including several local vendors — whose lives were changed forever by the shocking crime.
Yesterday, National Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, updated B-metro about the progress made so far. Like the infamous Great Train Robbery, the clues are elusive. The police are working flat out to close the case.
“This case is one that our Commissioner General, Stephen Mutamba, has emphasised must be prioritised. We are doing everything we can to catch the robbers, and once we have a breakthrough, we will make the information available to the public. We also appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead to an arrest, to come forward,” said Comm Nyathi.
Vendors who were present that day have recounted their harrowing experiences, recalling how they were helpless witnesses to the crime. Vendor A, who was serving a customer when the drama unfolded, vividly remembers the panic that set in. “I heard someone shouting and turned around. That’s when I saw a stout man pressing down on a security guard. At first, I didn’t understand what was happening, but then I realised — a robbery was taking place. It was terrifying. For days after, I couldn’t shake the fear,” said Vendor A, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
For Vendor B, the ordeal was equally unsettling. “I was sitting here when a man came to buy a cigarette. Then, just minutes later, I saw three men picking up a trunk from the security vehicle and loading it into their car. It was happening so fast. People were filming it on their phones, some in shock, others just standing there. I didn’t know what to think,” Vendor B recalled.
But the aftermath would be even more difficult for Vendor B, as the incident made her the centre of unwanted attention. “I ended up trending on TikTok. People started coming up to my stand, pointing at me and saying, ‘That’s the woman who saw the robbery, she’s everywhere on the internet!’ It was overwhelming. I couldn’t escape it. It pushed me into depression. Every day, people would look at me, and I couldn’t even leave my stand without feeling like I was being watched. I was living in fear,” she said, her voice tinged with the lasting effects of that fateful day.
The incident, which was captured on numerous mobile phones, circulated on social media, turning the robbery into a viral spectacle. Yet, despite the public interest and the shocking nature of the crime, the police are still working tirelessly to track down the perpetrators.
As the anniversary of the heist approaches, Bulawayo continues to grapple with the memory of the bold robbery. For the vendors who were caught in the middle of it, it’s a reminder of how quickly life can change — and how far-reaching the effects of a single crime can be. The investigation may still be ongoing, but for those who witnessed the robbery first-hand, the scars are still fresh
?BULAWAYO’S $4 MILLION BANK JOB: THE HUNT IS ON! ?
ECOBANK Zimbabwe is on a high-stakes mission to recover US$4 million, nearly a year after armed robbers pulled off one of Zimbabwe’s biggest cash heists!
On October 3, 2024, six masked gunmen stormed a Safeguard cash-in-transit van outside Ecobank’s Parkade Centre branch in Bulawayo’s CBD, making off with a fortune in just 149 seconds!
? Security Breach! No panic button, real-time CCTV, or armoured transport — this robbery exposed shocking lapses in bank security!
? Inside Job? Authorities suspect an information leak, as the gang struck just after the cash was loaded for Harare.
? Manhunt Goes Global! Believing some suspects fled to South Africa, the ZRP and Interpol are hot on their trail!
? Ecobank’s Damage Control! Following public outrage, the bank pledged tighter security, while its Parkade branch reopened in December 2024 after a two-month closure.
The million-dollar question remains—where’s the cash, and will the masterminds be caught? Stay tuned
Top 5 Zimbabwe bank heists
Zimbabwe has witnessed several significant bank heists over the years. Here are five prominent ones:
1. US$4 million Ecobank Bulawayo Heist (October 3, 2024): Six armed robbers intercepted a Safeguard Security Services vehicle outside Ecobank’s Parkade Centre branch in Bulawayo. This stands as the largest recorded bank robbery in Zimbabwe’s history.
2. US$2,7 million ZB Bank Cash-in-Transit Robbery (January 2021): A cash-in-transit vehicle transporting funds to multiple ZB Bank branches was robbed of approximately near Gwebi River Bridge on the Harare-Chirundu highway. Subsequent investigations revealed that bank employees orchestrated the heist.
3. ZWL$2,1 million, US$3 362, and R7 390 CBZ Bank Heist (November 5, 2020): Six armed individuals targeted Fawcett security guards delivering cash to CBZ Bank’s 8th Avenue branch in Bulawayo.
4. US$500 000 Standard Chartered Bank Robbery (2011): An armed gang stormed a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Chegutu, escaping with the cash.
5. US$250 000 Agribank Heist (2008): Robbers targeted an Agribank branch in Harare, making off with the cash.
PATTERNS & TRENDS
Insider collusion in 3/5 cases.
Violent heists (2011, 2015, 2023) vs cyber/digital theft (2018, 2020).
Only 1 case (CBZ 2018) saw significant arrests
Rest remain unsolved or fatal.
