Police have arrested three suspects and launched a manhunt for four accomplices in connection with a series of armed robberies in Ruwa, Rusape and Harare, one of which netted robbers US$108,000 in cash.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 15 September, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Tinei Makaripe (47), Pungurayi Mukambachaza and Gabriel Mukambachaza (41).
According to police, on 13 September 2026, at around 12.30 am, the suspects and their still-at-large accomplices allegedly stormed a company at Borders Estate in Ruwa, attacking and restraining workers before making off with US$108,000 in cash.
As the robbers fled the scene, Makaripe was caught by workers after he fell while attempting to scale the perimeter wall. He was handed over to police, and further investigations led detectives to Pungurayi Mukambachaza, who was arrested in Damofalls Phase 1, Harare, where US$4,900 was recovered hidden in his vehicle.
The third suspect, Gabriel Mukambachaza, was arrested at his rural home in Rusape. Police recovered a further US$5,000 from him, along with two pistols — a Star pistol loaded with one round and a Tokarev pistol loaded with seven rounds — as well as handcuffs, fuse cables, explosives and three balaclavas.
Investigations established that the recovered Tokarev pistol had been stolen during an armed robbery at a steel company in Southerton on 12 March 2026.
The three suspects are also being linked to four other armed robbery cases, including an incident at a beverages company in Rusape on 26 January 2026, in which US$39,828 in cash, a Star pistol loaded with five rounds, pepper spray, handcuffs and three cellphones were stolen.
They are further linked to the 12 March 2026 robbery at a steel company along Tilbury Road in Southerton, Harare, in which US$14,118 in cash was taken.
Police said the suspects’ accomplices — identified as Khule Diva, Mambo Dhuterere, Kasongo and Senior Gama — remain at large.
Police have not clarified whether the suspect known as Mambo Dhuterere is connected to musician Darlington Mutseta, who performs under the same moniker.
Members of the public with information relevant to the case have been urged to report to their nearest police station, or to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, or via WhatsApp on 0712 800 197.
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