Vusumuzi Dube
Two suspected armed robbers were on Monday shot dead an exchange of gunfire with the police in Bulawayo.
In a post on X, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the death of Aleck Moyo (37) and Bongani Tshuma (41) following a shootout incident with the police in the country’s second-largest city.
Comm Nyathi said the shootout broke out as detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide section were following up on intelligence that the suspected armed robbers were staying in a bushy area between Mpilo Central Hospital and Richmond suburb to evade arrest.
The suspects were linked to five armed robbery cases which occurred between March 6 and July 29 this year including one committed on May 7 at Phatalika village, Nyangazonke, Sunyetsen in Matebeleland South province where household goods, a Honda CVR and Toyota Surf vehicles were stolen.
The other robbery occurred on July 29 at a bushy area in Old Nkulumane 12, Bulawayo where a Honda Fit vehicle and three smart phones were stolen. When the detectives raided the suspected robbers’ hideout, the suspects responded by opening fire at the law enforcement officers resulting in a shoot- out.
“Subsequently, the suspects were overpowered leading to the recovery of a Cannic pistol with a magazine of four rounds and an Astra Revolver with two rounds,” said Comm Nyathi.
“The suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to United Bulawayo Group of Hospitals where they died upon admission. The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robbery cases in the country. “The crack teams set up by the Zimbabwe Republic Police command are alert and will ensure that the law takes its course without fear or favour.”
Meanwhile, two men from Karoi, Mashonaland West province have been jailed for an effective six months imprisonment each after they were found in possession of Crystal Meth. In a post on X, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe said Tonderai Kaleso (37) and Tinashe Mwizi (33) from Chiedza in Karoi appeared before the local magistrates’ court facing charges of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.
The charge arose from an incident on August 10 this year when police detectives got a tip-off that the two men were in possession of dangerous drugs at their house.
Acting on the tip-off, the investigators approached the accused persons and conducted a search in their room and found one sachet containing methylenedioxy methamphetamine.
Kaleso and Mwizi were immediately arrested after they failed to produce documents allowing them to be in possession of the drugs. They were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with the court conditionally suspending six months of the prison terms leaving the duo each to serve an effective six months.
Zimbabwe is facing a growing problem of substance abuse especially among unemployed youth resulting in a surge in arrests this year with over 2 400 taken into custody so far.
The government has since established an Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to deal with the issue as well as set up centres to provide counseling and rehabilitation to people struggling with drug addiction.
Bongani Ndlovu