Two armed robbers shot dead as they try to escape

Two of Zimbabwe's most notorious armed robbers, who committed a spate of spine-chilling crimes since January this year, died last Wednesday after they were shot by police while trying to flee from custody.

Tendai Faku (34) and Raymond Maringosi (38) died on admission at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

The hardcore criminals who had served long jail terms were only recently released from prison before they embarked on one of the most notorious crime sprees recorded in the history of the country.

They faced a total of 36 charges and their reign of terror included armed robbery, attempted murder, kidnapping and unlawful entry that saw them targeting affluent people and foreign nationals from whom they robbed of cash, property and classy cell phones which they disposed off at their hideout in South Africa.

An unidentified accomplice who committed most of the offences with Faku and Maringosi is however, still at large.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday said the two were shot by police detectives after they attempted to flee when they accompanied officers to recover firearms they had stashed at Greendale Cemetery in Harare. It is suspected the firearms were used in the duo's reign of terror.

"On arrival at the cemetery, they showed detectives where they had buried a bag containing two firearms and 100 rounds. As the detectives were busy retrieving the bag, the two who were handcuffed started running away, said Senior Asst Comm Charamba.

"Warning shots were fired, but they did not take heed. They were later shot and subsequently arrested. Accused Tendai Faku was shot once in the back while Raymond Maringosi was shot once in the leg and back. The accused persons were rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment where they were pronounced dead on admission."

She said Faku and Maringosi had been brought by detectives to Harare for further questioning after they were arrested in Mutare for attempting to rob a resident of the city whom they had ambushed in the affluent suburb of Murambi.

After they were arrested, they produced false identity particulars, pretending to be Mozambican nationals. They, however, failed to hoodwink the alert police detectives.

"On 28 October 2013, information was received by the CID Homicide Harare to the effect that the two accused persons were arrested in Mutare and were in custody at Mutare Remand Prison.

"Acting on the information, a team of detectives was dispatched to Mutare and upon arrival, the detectives positively identified the two accused as Tendai Elvis Makiseni Faku and Raymond Maringosi who were wanted for a spate of armed robberies in Harare, Gweru, Mutare and Bulawayo.

"It was established that the two had supplied pseudonyms and particulars as follows, Tendai Elvis Faku as Brian Muzungu aged 33 years-N.R (National Registration) F 04 of number 23 Samora Machero, Chimoi Mozambique. Raymond Maringosi as Givemore Mutize aged 37 years of Village Mutize, Chief Mutize, Mutoko Mutoko of 3D422G Junta, Maputo, Mozambique."

Police discovered the duo's hideout in South Africa on October 15 but the criminals fled to Zimbabwe via Mozambique. In one of their escapades, Faku and Maringosi raided the home of an employee of the Czech Republic Embassy in the Avenues area in Harare before force-marching her to the Embassy's offices in Belgravia, where they believed they would get more cash.

Another incident saw the duo attack the Avondale home of a Chinese national. They made off with more than US$15 000.

Faku's life of crime began when he was aged 17 and after getting in and out of prison between 1995 and 1996 for a spate of crimes, he was sentenced for an effective 13 years in prison on five counts of armed robbery in 2006.

After their arrest, they confessed to Police that their network included the elusive South Africa based duo Stanford Mandizvidza and Titus Chatukuta who are also among Zimbabwe's most wanted criminals.