Bulawayo police arrest gang behind spate of armed robberies

BULAWAYO – Police are holding four suspects over a spate of armed robberies in Bulawayo targeting families keeping cash and valuables in their homes.

National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the quartet are linked to several robberies that occurred between April 11 and May 23 this year.

The suspects were named as Vusumuzi Mguni, 24, Mbekezeli Moyo, 33, Andile Mudana, 25, and Nkazimulo Ndimande Nyoni, 27.

A manhunt is on for four other members of the gang – Prosper Moyo alias Professor, Prince Dube, one Mukaya and a JB. A ninth suspect, Uyapho Ndlovu, is currently on remand at Khami Prison after being arrested for other robbery cases.

Nyathi said police arrested Mguni on May 25 after he was linked to a robbery that occurred on May 10 at a homestead in Zangewani Village in Sigola near Bulawayo, and another robbery at the Council of the Blind in Bulawayo.

Mguni, according to Nyathi, implicated Ndimande Nyoni, Uyapho Ndlovu, Prosper Moyo, Prince Dube and Mukaya.

Detectives cornered Nyoni at the Hawkflight Terminus in Cowdray Park leading to a shootout. He was shot in his left thigh and is currently admitted at a local hospital under police guard.

Nyathi said in a statement on Tuesday: “The arrest led to the recovery of a gas-operated pellet gun, two axes, a machete, a bolt cutter, two pairs of school shoes, a bag, groceries, and several balaclavas.”

Mguni led police to two other suspects – Moyo and Mudana. Groceries, cosmetics, blankets, and pots were recovered.

Police said the arrests have assisted them to solve other reported robbery cases including one that occurred in Lovedale, Bulawayo, on April 11 where US$785, R1,300, beer, two mobile phones, meat, and fish were stolen.

The suspects have also been positively linked to a house robbery in Mbundane, Bulawayo, on April 12 where US$700 worth of goods and cash amounting to US$44 and R350 were stolen.

Another robbery occurred on May 23 on Gilchrist Road in Norwood, Bulawayo. A homeowner was attacked before household goods, two mobile phones and groceries were stolen.