Police in Zimbabwe have activated special teams across the country and deployed additional human resources to deal with criminal syndicates.
The move comes after the arrest of most members of two robbery gangs, with two of the robbers killed in gunfights in Harare.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned criminals that the long arm of the law would catch up with them.
“Let this be a warning to criminals and criminal syndicates that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them,” he said.
“We would want to reiterate and assure members of the public that there is no going back in the fight against criminal acts in the country. Therefore, criminal syndicates will be tracked down without fear or favour.
“Anyone with information on any criminal activity should feel free to report at any nearest police station so that the law can take its course,” he said.
On Monday, a suspected robber was shot dead while his two accomplices were arrested following a shoot-out with police in Harare. The robbers were part of a gang that had been terrorising families and business premises countrywide.
One of those arrested on Monday was also linked to the US$2,7 million ZB Bank heist which occurred in 2021.
Gerald Rutizira (38), who was part of a gang that seized the money which was en-route for distribution to ZB Bank branches in Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Gwanda, Zvishavane and Bulawayo, was on the wanted list following his release on bail from remand prison.
Rutizira was rearrested on Monday with Brighton Mangondo (35) as a member of a new gang of robbers that had been terrorising families and business premises countrywide.
A third member of the gang, Tanaka Living Nyaude Madzima (29), died on admission to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after a shoot-out with police in Riddleridge area of Harare on Monday.
Their arrests led to the recovery of a 12 bore Khan Arms shot gun at Rutizira’s residence in Southlea Park. Rutizira in turn led detectives to the Boka area where Tanaka Madzima was hiding.
A 9mm Star pistol, eight 9mm live rounds and a 0.22 RG 12 Revolver were recovered at Madzima’s residence in Frezer area, Ushewokunze.
Police also closed in on yet another gang of four, plus a fifth who died in a shootout, that robbed a motorist of a cellphone, iPad and US$250 cash last week in Southerton.
The four have so far been identified as Paul Chinake alias Pauros, Lovejoy alias Shorty, Teddie and Betto.
On Saturday, police shot and killed a fifth member of this gang after an exchange of gunfire in Chitungwiza’s Unit A suburb.
The shooting incident follows the Southerton robbery incident which went viral on social media platforms in which the complainant, who was driving a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle, was intercepted by the suspects who were aboard a Honda Fit vehicle on October 30, 2023 along Bryce Road, Harare.
