Robbers shot while resisting arrest

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has expressed concern over habitual criminals who continue to commit crime despite serving prison terms.

This follows the shooting by police of three suspected armed robbers who were resisting arrest in Goromonzi over the weekend.

Canaan Madamombe of Chitungwiza, George Timozo and Samson Goreraza both from Harare are detained at Parirenyatwa hospital after being shot while resisting arrest.

Police chief spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said the three are alleged to have robbed a Bangladesh national, along airport road.

It is alleged that the three pounced on the victim after a taxi he was travelling in had stopped after developing a fault.

Commissioner Bvudzijena revealed that the three suspects were recently released from prison after committing similar offences.

"These people were recently released from prison and it is now a trend that when such habitual offenders are released from prison, cases of armed robbery resurface," he said.

Recently, a man from Old Mabvuku who had been released from prison was beaten to death by an angry mob after stealing a television set.

Observers have noted that the trend by former inmates who go on to commit similar offences after being released from jail, should be a challenge to the Zimbabwe Prison Services which has the mandate to rehabilitate inmates.