Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
POLICE in the Midlands province have arrested three members of a five-man gang accused of killing a 72-year-old woman during a robbery in Kwekwe, with two other suspects still on the run.
The gang allegedly raided two homes in the Chicago area of Kwekwe in May this year, stealing property worth a combined US$33 000, including two motor vehicles, cash, groceries and household goods.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko identified the arrested suspects as William Chapu (40), of Unit O, Seke, Chitungwiza; Zivanai Ncube (40), of Rutendo, Redcliff and Daniel
Banda (45), of Village Bhasi, Chief Chirau, Zvimba, and Glen View 7, Harare.
Insp Mahoko said police were still looking for two other alleged gang members, identified as Musa Mutingwende and Chester, also known as Tsano.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested three members of a five-man gang, which was on the wanted persons list in connection with two cases of robbery and murder, which occurred in the Chicago area of Kwekwe in May 2026,” he said.
In the first incident, Insp Mahoko said the gang raided a property at Nesby Farm in Chicago, where an elderly woman and her three daughters were at home.
“The suspects, who were reportedly dressed in dark clothing and hooded jackets and armed with machetes and iron bars, allegedly assaulted the occupants and demanded valuables,” he said.
The victims surrendered US$800 in cash and two mobile phones before the suspects demanded the keys to a Mitsubishi Pajero belonging to the elderly woman.
“The gang allegedly ransacked the house, taking groceries, a toolbox containing three sets of spanners, blankets, three sets of solar lights, a 50-inch Sinotec plasma television, a 5kg gas cylinder, beef and beverages from the refrigerator,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said the suspects also stole a 5kVA Kippo generator before fleeing in the Pajero.
The second robbery turned fatal when the gang allegedly raided the home of Ms Letty Nyangu (72), who was later found dead in her bedroom.
Insp Mahoko said the incident came to light on May 25 when the victim’s son visited her home from Harare at around 2 PM.
“He found the main gate open and parked his vehicle in the yard. However, his mother’s silver-grey Honda Fit, registration number AGT 9304, was missing.
“Initially believing that she might have gone into town, he approached the house and noticed that the screen door was slightly open and the padlocks had been broken,” he said.
He entered the house and discovered that it had been ransacked before finding his mother’s body in the bedroom.
“The victim was found lying on the floor with both hands and legs tied with wire and cloth. She had several deep cuts all over her body and it was in an early stage of decomposition,” said Insp Mahoko.
The locks securing the main gate and the house’s main door had also been broken, allegedly using a bolt cutter.
Investigations established that a 42-inch black LG television and the Honda Fit were among the items stolen from the house.
Insp Mahoko said both stolen vehicles were recovered abandoned in Kadoma a day after the robberies, adding that detectives subsequently identified the suspects and tracked them down.
“Chapu and Ncube were found serving prison terms at Mvurwi Prison after being arrested in connection with other armed robbery cases in Mvurwi. They were later transferred to Kwekwe, where investigators are pursuing the two cases. Banda was arrested in Kadoma,” he said.
Insp Mahoko appealed to the public to contact CID Kwekwe or report to any police station with information that could assist investigations or lead to the arrest of the two remaining suspects.
“Police are urging anyone who may know the whereabouts of Mutingwende and Chester, also known as Tsano, to assist in bringing them to justice,” he said.
