HARARE – Police officers on Monday arrested nine suspects at a funeral procession of one of the five suspected armed robbers who died last Thursday when a Toyota Raum they were travelling in collided with a bus near Zindoga Shopping Centre along Simon Mazorodze Road in Harare.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed that the nine were arrested in Mbare while attending the funeral of Boris Mushonga (35). “Our police detectives also attended the funeral since they were looking for some of the suspects who were on the wanted list,” he said.
“Police had to fire warning shots to arrest the nine suspects whom we believe were behind a spate of armed robberies in Harare. They were also offering lifts and robbing people in and around the city.” Chief Supt Nyathi said no one was shot or injured when the detectives made the arrests.
“After arresting the suspects, our detectives left, leaving the family and the mourners to continue with the funeral,” he said.
Last Thursday, Mushonga and four of his accomplices died on the spot when their getaway vehicle was involved in an accident. The other four were Bright Mupamhanga (29) of Highfield, Terrence Tuware (19) of Mbare, Shyleen Mukoma (16) of Mufakose and Alois Kangwara (19) of Mbare.
Police said the five were on their wanted list on allegations of robbing passengers using their getaway vehicle and commuter omnibuses, during the night. They were targeting cash, cellphones and laptops, among other valuables.
On the fateful day, the gang gave a lift to a woman in Avondale before robbing her of her cellphone. According to reports, a motorist who was following behind saw the robbers wrestling with the woman and gave chase. The Toyota Raum sped off and went through a roadblock.
It nearly ran over a policeman manning the roadblock. The motorist who was giving chase picked one policeman at the roadblock and pursued the suspects. It is reported that the chase ended in Mbare where they lost the Toyota Raum. An hour later, the gang perished in an accident.
The Toyota Raum, was heading towards Mbudzi roundabout, while the bus belonging to G Muzanga Transport was driving into town from Nerupiri in Gutu, Masvingo when the accident occurred. Last month, police in Harare launched operation “Batai Munhu” to curb rising armed robberies.
