Zimbabwean police shot dead South African armed robbers

Zimbabwean police shot and killed four suspected armed robbers, including two South African nationals, during a shootout in Norton, on the outskirts of the capital, Harare, on Friday.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the incident occurred after detectives were tracking a criminal syndicate believed to have originated from South Africa and responsible for targeting areas in Bulawayo, Harare, and Kwekwe. The suspects reportedly opened fire on the detectives, leading to an exchange of gunfire at the Norton Tollgate along the Harare-Bulawayo road.

Four suspects were killed in the incident, while two detectives sustained serious injuries and are currently admitted to a local hospital. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed that two of the deceased suspects were South African nationals, with their passports recovered at the scene. Authorities also recovered a getaway vehicle and two 9mm firearms.

The ZRP has noted a worrying trend of increased armed robberies in the country. Deputy Police Commissioner for Administration, Leny Ncube, told Parliament that while total robbery cases decreased by 8% from January to August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, violent robberies involving firearms rose by 4%.

In response to the growing threat, police recently urged businesses, schools, and other institutions not to keep large sums of cash on premises but to deposit them in banks to mitigate the risk of armed attacks.