By Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru-A man pretending to be a pirate taxi driver has been arrested for several counts of robbery. According to official police reports, officers received information that robberies were being committed in and around Gweru by some three men pretending to be taxi operators.
According to Provincial Community Relations Liaison Officer, Inspector Immanuel Mahoko’s press release, one member of a three man-gang of robbers targeting travelling individuals while pretending to be operating a Mushika-shika vehicle has been arrested while a Blue Honda Fit motor vehicle they were using was recovered.
“The suspect, identified as Tatenda Munaka, aged 18, residing along 6th Street, Gweru
was arrested on 1 March 2023 at about 0600 hours at Puma Service Station in Gweru town. His two accomplices managed to escape.
“The arrest was made owing to collaboration between the alert three complainants they
had just robbed, other members of the public and Police Officers who attended the scenes,” Inspector Mahoko said.
The Provincial spokesperson, Mahoko highly appreciated the efforts made, as he said the past week or so had seen Gweru Central Police receiving a number of robbery reports where individuals were being robbed by crews of Mushika-shika vehicles which would have offered them lifts in routes leading in to and out of Gweru Central business District (CBD).
“Events leading to the arrest of Tatenda Munaka are that, he was allegedly in the
Company of two others, using the now recovered blue Honda fit motor vehicle, registration Number AFG4667.They moved around Gweru CBD targeting to rob people looking for transport.
At about 0515 hours they offered transport to two men who were travelling to Kwekwe. When they reached Nothlea roundabout just after, they stopped their vehicle and demanded money from the two victims,” he said adding that the accused allegedly stabbed one of the victims with a knife on the left and right legs before taking away from them, three Cell phones and cash USD$130.
Insp. Mahoko added that the robbers then pushed the complainants out of the Vehicle and sped off towards Gweru CBD.
“At around 0540 hours, they drove to DST Gweru where they pretended to be pirate taxi
Operators and picked a man who was going to Woodlands high density Surburb. Along the way, they took a left turn towards Raylton sports club and stopped after driving for about 100 metres.
“They used a Taser to shock the complainant and took away from him, two cellphones and cash USD$25-00.They then pushed the complainant out of the vehicle and made a U-turn and drove towards Gweru CBD,” he said.
The police said during visits to the scenes after reporting the cases to the Police, the complainants managed to identify the Honda Fit motor vehicle while it was refueling at Sakunda service station.
The vehicle was blocked and the three suspects bolted out and ran away. One of
them, Tatenda Munaka was arrested.
“Their motor vehicle was recovered and taken to Gweru central police station where it is being held as an exhibit.
Searches were made on the arrested suspect and the motor vehicle and the following items were recovered; Two Kitchen knives, eight cellphones, six of them belonging to the three complainants, while owners of the other two are yet to be established.
“As investigations are going on, we invite members of the public who might have
Information that can help in the arrest of the two suspects who escaped, to assist us.
‘We also invite those who recently fell victim so robbery by Mushikashika vehicle operators in nd around Gweru town to come to Gweru Central to help us link this robbery gang to all cases it was involved in, before we eventually take the cases to Court,” Read the press statement.
Total value stolen is USD$827-00 and total value recovered is USD$762-00.
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