ZRP confirms co-operation with UK, Interpol in Tshuma manhunt

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed that it worked closely with the United Kingdom authorities and Interpol in the investigation that led to the arrest of fugitive Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma in South Africa.

This follows public acknowledgement by British police of Zimbabwe’s assistance.

Bedfordshire Police senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Lee Martin, on Saturday thanked ZRP after announcing Tshuma’s arrest on Friday.

“I would like to thank the NCA, Interpol, and authorities in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as the rapid work of the Crown Prosecution Service, which has enabled this to happen so quickly,” said Det Insp Martin.

He said investigators had worked around the clock with national and international law enforcement agencies to secure the documentation required for Tshuma’s arrest after the Crown Prosecution Service authorised three murder charges.

Det Insp Martin said Tshuma had left the United Kingdom last Saturday, travelling via Dubai to Johannesburg before crossing into Zimbabwe. He added that investigators later established that Tshuma had travelled back from Zimbabwe into South Africa, where he was arrested.

He also thanked the media and members of the public in the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe and South Africa for providing information that assisted investigators in locating Tshuma.

“I would also like to thank the media, whose coverage of this case has been vital, and also the public, who came forward here in the UK and also in Zimbabwe and in South Africa to assist in locating him,” said Det Insp Martin.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Zimbabwe’s role was in line with its obligations as a member of Interpol following the issuance of a red notice.

“Interpol issued a red notice and the Zimbabwe police is part of Interpol, so we have to comply with the Interpol notices as required in terms of international policing considerations,” said Comm Nyathi.

“The Interpol authorities were getting in touch with us. The UK authorities were getting in touch with us, so we were co-operating.”

Comm Nyathi said co-operation between the law enforcement agencies involved continuous communication and the exchange of information, although operational details could not be disclosed.

“We were communicating. We were exchanging notes with them. Of course, we can’t tell the media how we co-operate, but I can safely say we were communicating and exchanging notes with them,” he said.

Comm Nyathi, however, said Zimbabwean authorities were still verifying claims that Tshuma had entered the country. He said there was no confirmed record of his arrival by air.

“It has been clearly established that he moved from the UK to South Africa. When he came to Zimbabwe, if he came at all, it is not clear because he did not fly. That is the issue which we are checking now,” he said.

Comm Nyathi explained that while airline passenger records make it easier to track travellers, confirming cross-border movements by road was far more difficult.

“People are checked by their travelling schedules. If someone boards a flight, the flight system assists in checking that person’s movement. But where somebody uses a bus and there are no indications to confirm whether that person was in that bus or not, it becomes very difficult. At the end of the day, it becomes speculation,” he said.

He also revealed that as part of the investigation, Zimbabwean authorities had maintained contact with Tshuma’s relatives in Bulawayo as well as with members of his late wife’s family.

“We were in touch with Ndodana Tshuma’s relatives in Bulawayo. We were also in touch with his late wife’s relatives in Bulawayo,” said Comm Nyathi.

Tshuma is currently in custody in South Africa, with British authorities expected to begin the legal and extradition process to return him to the United Kingdom to face three charges of murder.