Police detective arrested over calls with Bulawayo bank robbery suspects

A police detective, Detective Constable Sinikiwe Ndlovu, aged 38, has been apprehended and charged with corruption after evidence surfaced that she had been in communication with suspects involved in a bank robbery. The robbery, which occurred at a Nedbank branch in Bulawayo on August 28, resulted in the theft of US$270,000 and R2.2 million.

Ndlovu, employed at CID Stores and Business at Bulawayo Central Police Station, was charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice. She allegedly received a Honda Fit vehicle from the bank robbery suspects.

It is alleged that Ndlovu was in communication with at least two of the nine men suspected of robbing the bank both before and after the robbery. The suspects implicated her through their call histories, which showed that she had been in contact with them.

Two suspects were initially arrested, Lovemore Gambiza and Elias Mudenda, who then pointed to seven other individuals who are still at large. Investigating officers discovered that Ndlovu had been in contact with Agrippa Mloyi and Bhekani Mlilo, two of the suspects.

Ndlovu allegedly claimed that she bought the Honda Fit vehicle for US$4,700 from Agrippa Mloyi but failed to provide a sales agreement. She also acknowledged knowing Mloyi for some time, mentioning that they were former neighbors in Nketa suburb.

Ndlovu appeared in court on the charges of corruption and obstructing justice.