11 member truck jacking gang arrested

Spike in truck hijackings in Rietgat - Truck and Freight Information Online

Audrey Galawu

The Criminal Investigative Department has arrested 11 notorious armed robberies in connection with the theft of US$30 000 worth of groceries, US$2 570 and cellphones. The robbery happened in December.

The accused have been identified as Loveridge Tonderai Dzimwasha, 41, Panganai Munemo, 31, Zvivai Mangwanda, 39, Desire Tsaurai Kupara, 35, Gawaza Definitely Anesu, 49, Nicholas Murasira, 33, Tafirenyika Mariga, 48, Geselda Fadzai Katema, 40, Tapiwa Magadza, 48, Stephen Chikota, 37 and Shadreck Matenga, 52.

According to a police report, on December 10, 2022, Katema approached the complainant Chigidi Chigidi at Munela Wholesalers along Coventry Road in Workington, Harare, where she told Chigidi that she had a parcel which she wanted to send to Chegutu and so was looking for a truck going in that direction.

Chigudu and Katema exchanged numbers and Chigidi was given the contact details of Murasira who was to receive the parcel.

“On December 14, Katema gave Chigidi a parcel that was to be given to Murasira at Chibhero turn- off in Norton.

Chigidi met with Musarira at around midnight on December 15 with his workmate Emmanuel Marume driving a Scania 15 tonne truck carrying groceries worth US$30 000 on their way to Kwekwe.

“However, as soon as the complainant handed over the parcel, Dzimwasha and Munemo jumped into the truck, produced ZRP identity cards and told Chigidi that he was under arrest for possessing dangerous drugs,” reads the report.

Chigidi and Marume were handcuffed and bundled into the Baby Quantum where they were forced to lie on the floor. The two were later dumped from the car in Goromonzi where they made a report.

On January 6, detectives arrested Mangwanda along Robert Mugabe in Eastlea after receiving a tip-off. He was interviewed leading to the arrest of his accomplices.

The gang was also linked to nine other robberies including theft of a lorry loaded with 30 tonnes of rice in January 2022, a lorry loaded with 30 tonnes of cooking oil in March, a lorry loaded with 350 boxes of eggs in July, a lorry loaded with 30 tonnes of sugar in September and in October the accused robbed a lorry loaded with 30 tonnes of Zim Gold cooking oil.