FOUR suspected armed robbers were killed while two others were arrested in a shootout with police along Mbuya Nehanda Street in Harare on Friday.
- Zimbabwe Police Name 13 Most Wanted Armed Robbers
- Lavish lifestyle sell out armed robbers
- Armed robbers pounce on Lobels Bakery van and steal 500 loaves of bread
- Armed robbers break into Grace Mugabe’s Bedroom
- Armed Robbers Pounce on Nelson Chamisa Rival Gutu’s Offices
- Armed Robbers Pounce On Paramedics Helping Patient In Jo’burg
- Masked armed robbers get away with alcoholic drinks
- British historian dies after savage beating in South Africa by armed robbers at his home
One of the robbers was a serving member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The four deceased are Constable Kudzai Kanjera (45), Admire Nhetekwa (26), Tatenda Chari (35) and Brian Chibaya (37).
Two other suspects — Tichaona Kariwa (33) and 29-year-old Blessing Bheura of Chitungwiza — are in police custody after surviving the shootout.
In a statement yesterday, ZRP said the suspects, armed with four pistols, robbed a shop when they were ambushed by the police.
“The police received a tip-off of the gang’s intention to rob the complainant, Chris Chibueze Agu (45) and organised an ambush,” reads part of the communiqué.
Circumstances are that the owner of the shop, Chibueze Agu, told police that he received a call from a customer who wanted him to deliver a solar battery at his residence at 6pm, after business hours.
“The complainant entered his shop to collect a battery for his customer, which he had forgotten, and suddenly the suspects, who were armed with pistols and a 0.22mm magnum revolver, pounced on him and robbed him of US$10 000 cash,” police said.
As the suspects were leaving, police reacted swiftly, resulting in the shootout.
The stolen cash was recovered, including weapons that were supposed to be used for the robbery.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned criminals that the long arm of the law will always catch up with them.
“Police does not condone acts of criminality by police officers as stern and decisive action will be taken. One of the robbers, Constable Kanjera Kudzai, was a serving member of the ZRP who had gone rogue,” he said.
In recent months, police have upped the ante in tracking down armed robbers.
Last year, law enforcement agents nabbed the country’s most wanted suspect — Musa Taj Abdul and his accomplices.
Abdul and several members of his gang are in custody, awaiting trial on a slew of armed robberies committed over the past decade.