Story by Silibaziso Dlodlo
THE arrest of a notorious armed robbery gang that terrorised Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo has brought relief to residents and business owners after months of fear.
The syndicate, which operated between December 2024 and February this year, targeted shops and homes, stealing cash and mobile phones while threatening victims with firearms.
Artwell Chinyamakobvu, a shop assistant at A & M Groceries Supermarket in Nkulumane Complex, said the suspects posed as customers before striking at closing time.
“As we were about to close we saw those people disguised as customers coming in and one bought steri then the other one came in and another…they were three inside and they closed the door and ordered us to lie down and they took our phones and cash close to US$900 and immediately after we had reported to the police about 30 minutes the homicide CIDs came with inspectors to check fingerprints and they had canines to check the smell on what happened so we are really glad that they were caught in the end,” he said.
Detective Clayton Dhliwayo from CID Homicide Bulawayo said investigations established that the accused pretended to be customers before producing firearms and robbing shop owners.
“From a period stretching from December 2024 to February 2026, Nkulumane District faced a spate of armed robberies in which business premises were targeted. The accused persons would go to the shops during closing times, pretending to be customers. As the shop closes, they produce firearms and rob the complainants. The accused persons would take cash and cellphones and walk away. We managed to apprehend one of the accused persons at Pumula South, Robert Sinyoka, who led us to the arrest of the other accused persons. Firearms were recovered during the arrest, which were used during the robbery,” he said.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele urged the public to exercise caution.
“When you see a firearm, see it as a firearm. This one is a fake, this one is a real firearm, but when you look closely, they seem just the same. So we urge members of the public to treat everything as a real firearm because a firearm is a lethal weapon which can cause death. Money we can always work and regain, our business we can work and regain our wealth, but with life once lost it is lost for life,” she said.
Officer in Charge CID Homicide Bulawayo, Detective Chief Inspector Kaninji Herbert, said the syndicate used dangerous tactics, including poisoning dogs to gain entry into properties.
“The syndicate were behind a spate of armed robberies which happened in the greater part of Bulawayo, where they targeted local business people who stored large sums of cash in their business premises and residential areas. During the process, they used a unique modus operandi where they would lace bologna sausages and throw them into the yards where there are vicious dogs, and after eliminating the security, they would then go in, target the complainants and rob and even go up to the extent of torturing to extract as much information and large sums of money. Through the evidence that we had and recoveries made thereafter, on January 28 2026, we managed to secure a conviction of 46 years and six months and also managed to seize properties which they had gained as proceeds and also the vehicle which they used during the commission of the offence,” he said.
Police have urged members of the public to continue providing tip-offs and to report suspicious activities to help prevent crime and protect lives.
