POLICE in Matabeleland North province have arrested five suspects in connection with a series of armed robberies in Hwange and an attempted armed robbery at BancABC Bank in Kamativi.
This was confirmed by national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi who identified the suspects as Derren Tshuma (25), Proud Gumbo (30), Moyo Tamsanqa (33), Michael Donald Sibanda (26) and Majority Ndlovu (26).
Nyathi said police conducted a surveillance exercise after they were tipped off about a planned bank robbery.
“On August 27, police conducted surveillance around BancABC Bank Kamativi after receiving information about a planned robbery at the bank. A gunshot was later heard and three suspects were seen fleeing,” Nyathi said.
“Police gave chase, leading to the arrest of Tshuma and recovery of a spent cartridge as well as a national identification card stolen at a garage in Hwange on May 5.”
Nyathi said further investigations were conducted leading to the arrest of one of the suspects.
“Further investigations by the police led to the arrest of Gumbo at a bus stop near Cross Dete along Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road on August 28. The arrest led to the recovery of a Browning pistol and the arrest of other suspects, Moyo, Sibanda and Ndlovu,” he said.
Nyathi said the suspects’ getaway vehicles, a Nissan AD Van and a Nissan Sunny, were recovered, adding that the suspects were linked to other robberies.
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“The suspects are linked to five cases of armed robbery which occurred in Victoria Falls and Hwange between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024, including a case of robbery which occurred at ZB Bank Victoria Falls on December 31, 2022, where US$15 964 was stolen and another robbery which occurred at a service station on January 8, 2024, where a security guard was stabbed with an Okapi knife on the back before cash was stolen,” Nyathi said.
He said the suspects were also clearing a case of robbery which occurred at a bar in Lwendulu village, Hwange, on June 2 where cash and cellphones were stolen.
