Staff Reporter
Police arrested five members of a suspected 11-man gang that robbed the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Charandura Depot of agricultural inputs worth US$ 30,000 on Friday.
The other six gang members are still on the run.
The arrested five are Tirayi Dzimangi (52) of Hatcliff, Harare, Munesu Lazarous (37) of Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza, Harare, Jofile Magwadi (53) of 12th Street Hatcliff, Harare, Titus Marange (34) of Village Makarara, Chief Marange, Mutare and Stephen Nhamo (38) of Goodhope Lot 6 Westgate, Harare
A swift reaction by police in Mvuma resulted in the recovery of 29 tonnes of agricultural inputs which had just been robbed from GMB. The gang was intercepted by the police on 13 October 2023 around 0220 hours at the 193.5-kilometre peg along, Harare – Masvingo road in Mvuma.
According to Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko in the latest case, on 12 October 2023 around 2130 hours, the gang went to GMB Charandura and found two security guards on duty.
“They cut security fences of the depot and gained entry into the premises. They assaulted the guards using logs, tied them using ropes, stuffed their mouths with pieces of clothes, and placed them in a storm drain. They searched for and found keys to the gate, drove a truck into the depot, and loaded 540 bags of compound D fertilizer and 17 bags of shelled ground nuts before driving away. The offense was immediately discovered by one security guard who was coming from church and reported to Charandura police. The two complainants were found to have been injured in the assaults and were referred to St Theresa Hospital for medical assistance,” he said.
“ZRP Charandura communicated with their Mvuma counterparts and an armed roadblock was mounted at the 193,5 km peg Harare Masvingo road. Within a few minutes, a truck matching the description they had been given, registration number AGJ 7169 approached from Masvingo’s direction at high speed. The truck disobeyed the police signals to stop. Police had to fire shots which deflated one of the front wheels and in the process caused the motor vehicle to halt. Three occupants immediately jumped out and disappeared into the darkness,” he said.
The recovered inputs are valued at USD$30 000.00 and are held at ZRP Mvuma together with a Daf 15 tonne truck which was used in the commission of the offence.
Mahoko said all inputs stolen from GMB Charandura were recovered.
“Apart from the inputs, inside the vehicle was a third number plate with registration number AGA 9786 which is different from the front and rear number plates AGJ 7169. Efforts are underway to account for some remaining six gang members. Preliminary investigations are linking the robbery gang to other similar cases that happened across the country recently,” said Mahoko.
Police called on members of the public to assist with investigations.
