Armed Robberies Continue Unabated Despite Firearms...

Armed Robberies Continue Unabated Despite Firearms Amnesty

Zim Now Writer

Despite the recent firearms amnesty in which people were encouraged to surrender unregistered firearms and ammunition unconditionally, cases of armed robbery continue unabated with the latest case having been recorded at Birchenough Bridge Business Centre in Manicaland Province on Saturday, October 1.

Three of the eight gang members are serving officers with the Zimbabwe National Army stationed at 2 Brigade (Cranborne), Military School of Music (Bulawayo) and 5 Brigade (Kwekwe) respectively.

One, Elliot Kandiero (32), lost his life in a shootout with police while six of his accomplices were apprehended and are assisting with investigations pending a court appearance, according to a memorandum released by the force.

Birchenough Bridge Police are on the hunt for one outstanding accused person, Moses Tengera, under RRB number 5061771.

The national firearms amnesty, whose deadline was September 29, netted 545 firearms and 260 rounds of ammunition, amid fears there are many more weapons in wrong hands if the increase in armed robberies is anything to go by.

Circumstances surrounding the Birchenough Bridge shootout are that at around 20:00hrs, James Keriphanos Makombe, Oswald Kaseke, Peterson Chiripiwako and Owen Dzinduwa were arrested in Masvingo after police had received a tip off they wanted to commit a crime. They were taken to ZRP Bikita and had detectives from Harare and Nyanga Homicide interrogating them.

It was established that the quartet were waiting for their accomplices to go on an armed robbery mission. Detectives were supplied with the registration number of a vehicle they intended to use, which was parked at Birchenough Bridge Business Centre.

Upon confrontation, a shootout ensued, with the robbers returning fire. Having gunned down one, the detectives were then able to arrest Collius Kamuti, Timothy Mawere, Maxwell Kuwanda and (Elliot) Kandiero who later succumbed to wounds from the exchange of fire.