News / Regional
Notorious Zimbabwean carjacker arrested
18 May 2012 at 04:54hrs | Views
POLICE in Matabeleland South have arrested a 34-year-old notorious Zimbabwean carjacker who had been terrorising motorists and residents in Mahalaphe and Masunga areas of Botswana.
Chirairo Chiza, alias Ralph Chiza or Gideon Silwenga, was arrested last Friday after he hijacked a truck belonging to Botswana Power Corporation at gunpoint. He was arrested at a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho road en-route to Malawi.
The Isuzu RTF8 truck was worth P283 000.
Matabeleland South police spokesman Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe confirmed the arrest.
He said Chiza was being held at Plumtree Police Station.
"Police detectives in Plumtree got information from our counterparts in Botswana that the suspect had hijacked a truck belonging to Botswana Power Corporation at gunpoint and that he had crossed into the country with the vehicle," said Insp Dzirutwe.
"Police in Plumtree then alerted all units on the roads leading to Bulawayo and Tsholotsho.
"Roadblocks were then mounted along these roads. Chiza arrived at a road block at the 26km peg along the Bulawayo-Tsholostho road with the stolen truck.
"He was stopped and upon being asked to produce a drivers' licence he opened the door and attempted to flee.
"Our detectives gave chase and caught up with him. Chiza was then found in possession of a Zimbabwean ID bearing the names Chirairo Chiza and a Zambian passport bearing the names Gideon Silwenga."
Insp Dzirutwe said Chiza was interrogated and said he had bought the truck in Plumtree and was taking it to Malawi for sale.
"When our officers wanted to arrest him he resisted and it took them 15 minutes to subdue him," he said.
"We then alerted our counterparts in Botswana who positively identified Chiza and the stolen truck.
"They said he used the names Ralph Chiza in that country where he is also wanted in connection with several cases of carjacking and theft of computers in Mahalaphe and Masunga areas."
Chirairo Chiza, alias Ralph Chiza or Gideon Silwenga, was arrested last Friday after he hijacked a truck belonging to Botswana Power Corporation at gunpoint. He was arrested at a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho road en-route to Malawi.
The Isuzu RTF8 truck was worth P283 000.
Matabeleland South police spokesman Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe confirmed the arrest.
He said Chiza was being held at Plumtree Police Station.
"Police detectives in Plumtree got information from our counterparts in Botswana that the suspect had hijacked a truck belonging to Botswana Power Corporation at gunpoint and that he had crossed into the country with the vehicle," said Insp Dzirutwe.
"Police in Plumtree then alerted all units on the roads leading to Bulawayo and Tsholotsho.
"He was stopped and upon being asked to produce a drivers' licence he opened the door and attempted to flee.
"Our detectives gave chase and caught up with him. Chiza was then found in possession of a Zimbabwean ID bearing the names Chirairo Chiza and a Zambian passport bearing the names Gideon Silwenga."
Insp Dzirutwe said Chiza was interrogated and said he had bought the truck in Plumtree and was taking it to Malawi for sale.
"When our officers wanted to arrest him he resisted and it took them 15 minutes to subdue him," he said.
"We then alerted our counterparts in Botswana who positively identified Chiza and the stolen truck.
"They said he used the names Ralph Chiza in that country where he is also wanted in connection with several cases of carjacking and theft of computers in Mahalaphe and Masunga areas."
Source - TH
