MATABELELAND South police have arrested a gang of four armed robbers, including a police officer and a Central Intelligence Organisation operative, who are suspected of being behind a spate of armed robberies in the province.
Six vehicles and two pistols allegedly used to commit the robberies were recovered following the swoop on the gang. Another member of the gang is a Harare-based car dealer.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe confirmed the arrests, saying the quartet appeared in court yesterday.
“The four armed robbers appeared in court today and they have been remanded in custody to February 5.
“They are facing armed robbery charges but I cannot comment further as the matter is now before the courts,” said Insp Dzirutwe.
Officer Commanding CID in the province Chief Superintendent Abigail Moyo said investigations were still under way as there were indications that the gang might be bigger.
“After carrying our investigations, we have recovered two Mercedes-Benz ML vehicles, two Nissan Hardbody twin cabs and one BMW, a Toyota Corolla sedan and two pistols.
“One of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles is registered in South Africa and was smuggled into the country through the Beitbridge Border Post,” said Chief Supt Moyo.
Rabson Mapurisa (35), a CIO operative, his brother Herbert Mapurisa (37), a car dealer, Admire Chihambakwe (28), a police officer and Misheck Muchemedzi (38) were arrested last week by Gwanda CID following a tip-off.
It is understood that the junior Mapurisa had access to the CIO’s armoury where he took the pistols used to commit the robberies.
Chihambakwe would supply his accomplices with police uniforms and, posing as officers on duty, the gang would pounce on unsuspecting victims.
The elder Mapurisa is believed to have been involved in selling stolen and smuggled motor vehicles at Beitbridge Border Post.
On January 4 2010, the four allegedly robbed Mr Patrick Dice, who owns some gold claims at his farm, after they had arranged a bogus meeting with him claiming that they wanted to give him tips on how to protect himself from armed robbers.
The gang is said to have asked Mr Dice where he kept his rifles and when he showed them, one of the robbers grabbed him from behind and tied him with a wire.
The other members of the gang then went on to tie up his wife and maid using copper wire.
They then forced their victims to drink a concoction which left them unconscious before making off with R90 000, 2 kilogrammes of gold, a pistol and jewellery.
When the police arrived the three victims had recovered consciousness but were apparently heavily drunk. They were rushed to Gwanda Hospital for medical checks.
The loss of consciousness and drunkenness caused delays in investigations.
Following a tip-off, Gwanda CID managed to apprehend the four robbers between Saturday and Monday last week.
Chihambakwe was arrested in Kadoma and police impounded the Nissan twin cab he was driving while Rabson was arrested at Beitbridge Border Post while trying to bring in one of the recovered cars, a Toyota Corolla.
The other two suspects were nabbed around the Gwanda area
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written by sizabantu mkhwananzi, January 25, 2010
written by nleya, January 25, 2010
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>
> No one doubts the great power that the Shona Kingdom was bestowed with
> since time immemorial.Our forefathers were conquerors even though the
> Ndebele savages defeated us we used our diplomas to take them head
> on.Look at what R.G. and Tsvangirai have achieved.These are our
> present day heroes.They have turned Matabeleland into a safe haven for
> Shonas.Where in Zimbabwe will you not find a Shona and comfortable
> speaking their mother language.
>
> Look at industry Shonas are enterprising and making money.Thanks to
> black empowerment which the Ndebeles misinterpret.This means Shona
> empowerment and just look at the number of rand shops mushrooming in
> Bulawayo most are Shona buisness entities.Whatever comlaints these
> Ndebeles may have they have no strategy to out do the Shona power.
>
> In 1963 Zanu was formed to protect the interests of our people and the
> same happened with MDC IN 2006.All these splits had nothing to do with
> what you readand hear from the media, it was just a way of getting rid
> of Ndebele think tanks and reducing them to nothing.Look at
> Welshman,Nkomo and Jonathan were all reduced to beggers and right now
> Jona is back he will be used like a condom and thrown away.The same
> happened to Welshman,Fletcher, Nyathi and Gibson.They tirelessly
> worked for MDC while Biti, Chamisa and others rode on their backs and
> were finally thrown away.They can still make a lot of noise but
> foolish Ndebeles still think MDC-T is their only hope.They don't
> realise that they are only consolidating a Shona cause.
>
> Zanu and MDC have the same cause and their strategy in destroying the
> Ndebele power base is the same.Just look at these scenarios; Joice
> Mujuru VP.Thokozani DP. John Nkomo,national chairman,Lovemore Moyo the
> same for MDC. The strategty is to make it appear as though they are
> important yet they can't makecrucial decision and the positions of
> secretary general and spokes person are crucial for keeping Ndebeles
> only known within Zimbabwe and not international.
> Lastly we are fast moving towards one nation one tribe whether MDC or
> Zanu is in power. Most Ndebeles are fast becoming Shonas.Most Shona in
> Bulawayo with 10 years of residents can not speak Ndebele not because
> they are not capable but because thus the great language.