Authorities in Zimbabwe are intensifying their efforts to apprehend a group of six armed robbers who executed a audacious bank heist in Bulawayo, making off with over US$4 million.
The criminals, identified as local residents believed to be operating out of South Africa, have been linked to a series of high-profile robberies throughout the country, marking this incident as one of the largest thefts in Zimbabwe’s criminal history.
Following the brazen attack, specialized investigative teams have been deployed to Bulawayo and neighboring regions in a bid to gather intelligence and pursue potential leads related to the gang’s activities.
This notorious group has a well-established history of orchestrating heists, including a significant robbery in October 2022, where they stole nearly 12 kilograms of gold from a cash-in-transit vehicle, valued at approximately US$675,000.
In the months leading up to the recent heist, they allegedly focused their attacks on financial institutions, money transfer services, and wholesalers, successfully stealing substantial amounts of cash and valuable goods during a spree that included over US$858,000 and R508,000 from multiple raids in Bulawayo alone.
The suspects have been identified as Elijah Vumbunu (also known as Mupositori), David Sawadye, Israel Zulu, Kudakwashe Mudzingwa (alias Umbro), Takafa Vumbunu (alias Naison Mahembe), Paul Chinake, and Brian Murape, many of whom flee to South Africa after committing their crimes, with Vumbunu reportedly operating a trucking business in a wealthy suburb there.
As law enforcement agencies collaborate with Interpol in their pursuit of justice, officials remain optimistic that their combined efforts will lead to the capture of these criminals and the recovery of the substantial sums of money that were stolen.