ZIMBABWE woke up to terrible news yesterday that prominent businessman Joseph Mutangadura, affectionately known as Mtangaz, had been gunned down in his sleep at his farm in Ruwa.
Seven masked, heavily armed individuals — wielding pistols, claw bars and hammers — attacked the security guard, forced their way inside, shot Mutangadura, and ransacked the house before vanishing.
This chilling act was not merely a robbery — it was a cold-blooded execution in what should have been the safety of one’s home.
Indeed, it is worrying that the crime rate is escalating sharply.
The broader context makes this tragedy even more alarming: The crime rate soared a staggering 33,7%.
In raw numbers, a whopping 310 876 criminal offences were recorded in Q1 2025, compared to 232 593 in Q4 2024
Cities remain hotspots: Bulawayo recorded a crime rate of 4 941,3 per 100 000 — more than double the national average — followed by Harare with 3 751,2 per 100 000.
Over the past 18 months, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has documented over 30 major cash robberies, with losses exceeding US$6 million.
- Suspected armed robbers nabbed.
- 2 nabbed over $2,5m goods theft
- Karoi robbers remanded in custody
- Armed robbers grab US$450K gold at mine
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Notably, the Ecobank heist in Bulawayo — a meticulously planned attack — resulted in the theft of US$4 million which shook public confidence.
These numbers expose a trajectory of brazen criminality: violent armed robberies and an ever-worsening sense of jeopardy for Zimbabweans in every corner of society.
The recent act of callousness should herald a paradigm shift: No mercy, no delay.
The killing of Mutangadura must become a turning point.
These are not isolated acts of desperation — they are orchestrated attacks on citizens’ safety.
Armed robbers are domestic terrorists disguised as criminals — emboldened by impunity and the availability of unlicensed firearms.
The police’s “no-nonsense” approach is welcome — but it must translate to sustained, decisive action.
Armed robbery must be met with unyielding legal and operational forces.
Parliament must enact stricter laws: mandatory jail sentences for armed robbery and illegal firearms possession, with no possibility for early release.
The Home Affairs ministry must beef up surveillance at borders, tighten firearm licensing and eliminate loopholes that allow illegal guns to proliferate.
We need modern law enforcement tools: improved intelligence systems, forensic capacity and enhanced community policing that rebuild trust and enable preventive action — not just reactive response.
To Parliament, it must pass laws that stipulate harsher penalties for violent, armed crimes.
Let penalties be a real deterrent — not an afterthought.
Again to the Home Affairs ministry, fortify frontiers against gun smuggling, overhaul licensing systems and partner meaningfully with the police to anticipate and thwart high-stakes crimes.
On the other hand, the police must implement intelligence-led operations.
Prioritise innovations — from surveillance tech to community task forces — to dismantle criminal networks before they strike again.
Zimbabwe must forthwith cease to be a stage for audacious heists and terror in broad daylight.
Let the killing of Mutangadura not be another tragic news headline, but a wake-up call that forces the hand of politicians, police and society.
Armed robbery will no longer be tolerated.
Perpetrators will face swift, uncompromising justice. No safe harbour. No excuses. No exceptions.
