5 carjackers nabbed

Zim Now Writer

Police have arrested five suspects who targeted motorists in Harare and Beitbridge where they would masquerade as genuine travellers before robbing them of their vehicles.

They mainly targetted taxi drivers whom they would rob of their cars and valuables.

CID acting spokesperson Detective Assistant Inspector Rachel Muteweri said the carjacking gang was operating in central Harare and Beitbridge between April last year and this month.

“This prompted the Zimbabwe Republic Police to launch a manhunt. On 16 January 2023, Bill Tirihama alias Machingura aged 26 of 1447, Chinamano, Epworth, Harare, Narvick Nhowa aged 28 and John Kamba aged 42 all of Highfield, Harare; John Allan Nyoni aged 21 and Tichaona Dhava aged 26 of Beitbridge were arrested after detectives from CID Braeside intercepted them driving a Honda Fit,” she said.

Investigations revealed that the vehicle had reportedly stolen from Beitbridge and that the suspects had committed similar offences in Harare and Beitbridge.

The suspects then led detectives to a bushy area near Mangava Shopping Centre in Beitbridge where a pellet gun and toy gun that they used in the commission of the offences was found.

“The accused persons are now clearing four cases of robbery of motor vehicles. In one robbery on December 21 last year at about 4am, the gang approached a taxi parked at Mashakada Shopping Centre, Beitbridge and hired the driver to New Stands in Beitbridge.

“Along the way, they robbed him of his motor vehicle at gunpoint and drove off leaving him stranded,” Detective Asst Insp Muteweri said.

The suspects, using the same modus operandi, robbed another complainant of his Toyota Sienta on December 24 at 10.20pm in Harare after hiring the driver from a club in the city centre to Lochinvar.

Along the way, they robbed him of his vehicle at gun point, before shoving him out of the vehicle and drove off.

The five have since appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje who remanded them in custody to today for routine remand.