A violent clash between detectives and a gang of armed robbers erupted in Harare, resulting in two fatalities and the arrest of four individuals. The incident involved four South African armed robbers – three who were arrested and one who was shot de@d at the scene. The incident highlighted the rising concern of foreign involvement in criminal activities within Zimbabwe.
According to police reports, the confrontation unfolded at a guest house in Harare. Jabulani Ngobeni, a 45-year-old from Tzannen in Limpopo, South Africa, initiated gunfire towards the detectives, leading to his fatal shooting by law enforcement. Godknows Machingura, a 44-year-old, met a similar fate while attempting to flee from the authorities.
The arrested suspects include Andrew Masubelele and Ndiafhi Makhado from South Africa, along with Emmanuel Makamo and Paul Zhou, with the latter being a local resident of Waterfalls in Harare. They face charges related to armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
The gang of armed robbers allegedly plotted to ambush a Chinese national conducting business operations in Kwekwe. Their scheme involved intercepting the individual’s vehicle en route to Harare. Detectives alerted to their activities, and traced their movements to a guest house on Mauritius Road in Arcadia, Harare.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi expressed concern over the increasing involvement of foreign nationals in criminal activities within Zimbabwe. He stated,
“The police is concerned with the involvement of foreign nationals in some of the robberies. A case in point is the recent Kadoma-Chegutu shootout and the Victoria Falls incident where some foreign nationals ran away after a shooting incident,” Nyathi said.
The police’s vigilance and swift action led to the arrest of the suspects and the prevention of a potentially dangerous robbery. Nyathi emphasised the police’s commitment to upholding the law, promising that any form of confrontation with law enforcement would be met with an appropriate response.
“The police assures the public that it will account for all criminals and ensure the law takes its course. Any form of confrontation with the police will be met with an appropriate response.”
Source iHarare
