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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
TWO suspected armed robbers believed to have been behind a spate of robberies around the country were shot dead on Tuesday after exchanging gunfire with police in Shamrock high-density suburb in Gweru following a high-speed chase with the police.
The incident occurred at around 2:25pm when the police were led on a high-speed pursuit by suspected armed robbers who were driving in a Honda Trim.
The deceased have been identified as Knowledge Dawa (30) and Pardon Zvirimumoyo Ruhungwe.
According to eyewitnesses, the policemen, who were driving a Nissan Hardbody twin-cab, spotted the suspects at Bahadah Centre shopping mall in Gweru’s central business district before being led on a hot pursuit after the suspected robbers tried to evade arrest by speeding off in the direction of Mtapa high-density suburb.
The suspects are said to have diverted from the route and drove towards Shamrock high-density suburb before reaching a dead end in one of the suburb’s streets.
“We spotted the police being led on a high-speed chase by the robbers going towards Shamrock suburb where they drove towards a closed street. Upon realising that they had reached a dead end, the two suspected robbers opened fire on the policemen who were chasing after them.
“Police responded by firing warning shots in the air before firing at the two resulting in one of the robbers being shot in the stomach while the other one was shot in the waist after he tried to escape,” said an eyewitness who witnessed the drama unfolding.
National police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that there was a shoot-out between police and two armed robbers in Gweru. The two robbers together with three other accomplices who are still at large are linked to some cases of armed robbery that occurred during the festive season,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the robbers were also linked to the robbery at Waverly Blankets in Harare where they stole US$412 000 as well as an armed robbery in Kwekwe where they stole 100kg of carbon gold, 1,7kg Amalgam gold and US$413 at Notsure Mine.
“In one of the cases the two suspects, in the company of three accomplices on December 29 went to a house of a gold dealer in Khulumani low-density suburb in Bulawayo where they masqueraded as police details from Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The suspects force-marched him to his bedroom where they took R560 000 and US$5 400 before handcuffing the man on one hand while the other cuff was fastened to a pillar. The suspects drove off in a Toyota Spacio,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police made follow-up of the cases leading to the arrest of one of the suspects, Arthur Jappa, on Tuesday morning.
Police later got a tip-off from members of the public who had spotted the other two suspects, Dawa and Ruhungwe, in Gweru.
Policemen from Bulawayo and Harare combined forces and went to Gweru.
“The suspects were located in Gweru’s CBD and tried to escape leading to a high-speed chase. One of the suspects was shot in the abdomen while the other in the pelvis.
“One of the suspects, who was critical, was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he died upon admission while the other who was still in a stable condition was taken to Bulawayo where he was admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals where he later died,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the police have launched a manhunt for the other two suspects only identified as Benjamin and Tineyi.
Online Reporter