News / National
4 Zimbabweans arrested in Mozambique for armed robbery
13 Dec 2013 at 06:26hrs | Views
FOUR Zimbabwean suspected notorious armed robbers were arrested in Mozambique after they had attempted to rob a gold dealer in September using two pistols.
The four are also wanted in the country for a spate of armed robberies, including the $265 000 Kadoma heist in 2010 were they robbed a cash-in-transit vehicle, among other high profile cases.
Police sources yesterday said a team of detectives recently visited Mozambique after they were informed by their counterparts following the arrest of the suspects.
Although the details were still sketchy, the robbers have been identified as Fungai Shonhiwa Tagarira, an ex-soldier Silas Pfupa, while the other two were identified only as Mudzinganyama and Jonhera.
The four are still in custody in the neighbouring country and assisting with investigations.
It is alleged that sometime in September, the four crossed into Mozambique through illegal entry points and went to Manica where they were targeting a gold dealer.
A police source said the four went to a river where they started cleaning their guns as they waylaid the gold dealer.
During the process, one of the guns accidentally discharged and this alerted some of the people who were nearby.
The people then chased the suspects and apprehended them before handing them over to the police.
Since September, the suspects are still in custody in Mozambique and have not appeared before the courts.
Police in Harare are also keen to question them once their case is finalised in Mozambique.
Criminals have been known for fleeing to neighbouring countries after committing a spate of robberies in the country.
Most of them usually flee to South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana where they also commit various offences.
At least 17 Zimbabweans are on the international police's most wanted list for committing various offences regionally and internationally.
Of the 17, five are on the international police most wanted list for committing various offences in Botswana and South Africa.
The four are also wanted in the country for a spate of armed robberies, including the $265 000 Kadoma heist in 2010 were they robbed a cash-in-transit vehicle, among other high profile cases.
Police sources yesterday said a team of detectives recently visited Mozambique after they were informed by their counterparts following the arrest of the suspects.
Although the details were still sketchy, the robbers have been identified as Fungai Shonhiwa Tagarira, an ex-soldier Silas Pfupa, while the other two were identified only as Mudzinganyama and Jonhera.
The four are still in custody in the neighbouring country and assisting with investigations.
It is alleged that sometime in September, the four crossed into Mozambique through illegal entry points and went to Manica where they were targeting a gold dealer.
A police source said the four went to a river where they started cleaning their guns as they waylaid the gold dealer.
During the process, one of the guns accidentally discharged and this alerted some of the people who were nearby.
The people then chased the suspects and apprehended them before handing them over to the police.
Since September, the suspects are still in custody in Mozambique and have not appeared before the courts.
Police in Harare are also keen to question them once their case is finalised in Mozambique.
Criminals have been known for fleeing to neighbouring countries after committing a spate of robberies in the country.
Most of them usually flee to South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana where they also commit various offences.
At least 17 Zimbabweans are on the international police's most wanted list for committing various offences regionally and internationally.
Of the 17, five are on the international police most wanted list for committing various offences in Botswana and South Africa.
Source - herald