A DARING Chipinge woman recently put her life and that of her children at risk when she wrestled and overpowered a pistol-wielding robber who had intruded into her bedroom intending to rob the family of cash.
After being disarmed by Ms Irene Samupindi, the robber bolted out of the bedroom, and fled from the scene together with his two accomplices who had been kept at bay by Ms Samupindi’s equally heroic minor children.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, and said two suspects, Last Garikai alias Musvetu (40), of Gaza and Farai Mangwayana have since been arrested on armed robbery charges.
The pair was also charged with an additional three counts of armed robbery after confessing to the crimes during interrogations.
“Ms Irene Samupindi is a known resident in Chipinge. On June 28, she arrived home from town and remained in the car for about 10 minutes. She later went into her bedroom.
“After about five minutes, Last Garikai stormed into her kitchen wearing a balaclava and armed with a pistol which he pointed at Ms Samupindi’s domestic worker, Ms Yeukai Mashava. He demanded to know where Ms Samupindi was and was shown.
“Upon entering the main bedroom, Garikai pointed the pistol at Ms Samupindi’s head and ordered her to lie down. Ms Samupindi wrestled with Garikai while shouting for help. Her children joined in the scuffle. The children also blocked the other two robbers from entering the bedroom. Ms Samupindi managed to disarm the intruder, prompting the three accused persons to bolt from the scene, leaving the loaded pistol behind,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Ms Samupindi reported the matter through the phone to the police in Chipinge, who attended the scene and recovered the pistol, magazine loaded with four rounds and black balaclava.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said two days later, Garikai and Mangwayana were picked up by police detectives in connection with a spate of armed robberies in the farming town.
After thorough interrogations, the two suspects admitted to committing three armed robberies in the town as well as attempting to rob Ms Samupindi.
“On June 30, 2024 at around 9pm, police detectives in Chipinge arrested Last Garikai and Farai Mangwayana. During interrogations, Garikai confessed that he was the one who had committed three armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery on Ms Samupindi where a pistol was recovered. Mangwayana admitted to a case of unlawful entry,” he said.
