The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has moved to clarify that a suspect wanted in connection with a string of armed robberies, and referred to only as “Mambo Dhuterere,” is not the Zimbabwean gospel musician of the same name.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, police said: “Reference is made to the ZRP press statement regarding the arrest of Tinei Makaripe (47), Pungurayi Mukumbachaza and Gabriel Mukumbachaza (41) in connection with a series of armed robbery cases in Ruwa, Rusape and Harare. The ZRP clarifies that one of the outstanding suspects referred to as ‘Mambo Dhuterere’ is not the Zimbabwean musician known by that name.”
The clarification follows an earlier statement issued by ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Tuesday afternoon, in which he confirmed that police had arrested three suspects — Tinei Makaripe, Pungurayi Mukambachaza and Gabriel Mukambachaza — in connection with a series of armed robberies in Ruwa, Rusape and Harare, one of which netted robbers US$108,000 in cash.
Nyathi said the trio’s accomplices, named only as Khule Diva, Mambo Dhuterere, Kasongo and Senior Gama, remained at large.
“The suspects’ accomplices identified as Khule Diva, Mambo Dhuterere, Kasongo and Senior Gama are on the run,” he said, without providing the suspects’ real names.
Because police gave no further identifying details, the statement was widely shared on social media, where many users speculated that the wanted man might be Darlington Mutseta, the gospel musician who performs under the stage name Mambo Dhuterere, best known for his hit song “Dare Guru.”
The speculation prompted Mutseta to publicly distance himself from the suspect, going as far as to suggest he might consider changing his stage name. In a message shared on social media, he said:
“Mmmmm rawandirwa Zita rakuda kuchinjwa iri… kwanana Mambo Dhuterere vehuruweki futi… Kana ndimi Manuwero…” which translates roughly as: “Mmmmm, too many people are now using my name… now there’s a Mambo Dhuterere involved in armed robberies too… just imagine, Emmanuel.”
Following the public confusion, police issued their follow-up statement on Tuesday night to confirm that the wanted suspect and the well-known gospel musician are not the same person, putting to rest speculation that had circulated late on Tuesday.
The three arrested suspects remain in custody in connection with a series of armed robberies, including an incident on 13 September 2026 at a company in Borders Estate, Ruwa, where robbers made off with US$108,000 in cash after attacking and restraining workers.
The suspects have also been linked to earlier robberies in Rusape and Southerton, Harare, dating back to January and March 2026.
The four accomplices, including the suspect using the name Mambo Dhuterere, remain at large, and police have appealed to members of the public with any information to come forward.
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