Police shoot-out leaves 4 gunmen dead in Zimbabwe

Four suspected armed robbers, including two foreign nationals, were shot dead in a dramatic high-speed chase and gun battle with police along the Harare-Bulawayo Road near the Norton Tollgate last Thursday.

The violent confrontation left two detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Unit seriously injured. Police say the incident was the culmination of a targeted operation against a suspected cross-border syndicate linked to a string of robberies across Bulawayo, Harare, and Kwekwe.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the shoot-out, saying detectives had been tracking the suspects' vehicle after receiving a tip-off. "As the detectives were following, the suspects fired at them, resulting in a serious exchange of fire near Norton Tollgate," he said.

The suspects were travelling in a silver Toyota Axio, which has since been impounded. Inside, investigators recovered two pistols - a Girsan 9mm Parabellum with two rounds and another 9mm pistol with one round - along with a pair of grey army green Relay shoes and a navy blue jacket branded "Grey Wolf."

Detectives say this clothing directly linked one of the suspects to a September 30 armed robbery at a Harare hospital, where CCTV footage captured him wearing the same items. In that case, US$1 833 in cash and airtime worth US$140 were stolen.

The syndicate is believed to have committed at least five other major robberies between June 25 and October 3 this year, including one in Njube, Bulawayo, where US$8 000 and an iPhone were stolen.

Commissioner Nyathi said the injured detectives are receiving treatment at a local hospital. He reaffirmed the police's commitment to crushing organised crime, warning that criminal gangs would be decisively dealt with.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robbery cases in the country. All syndicates, whether locally or foreign-based, will be decisively dealt with in line with the country's laws," he declared.

Authorities have urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities to help curb rising cases of armed robbery.