Suburban
Suburban Reporter
A POLICE Constable based at Rhodesville Police Station is among six robbery suspects believed to have killed a Marondera businessman after storming his house last Friday.
The six are alleged to have shot dead Mr Paul Chimoka (62) after storming his house while armed at around 2am before tying up his family while demanding cash. Mr Chimoka ran a bricklaying company in Marondera. Police made headway into investigations into the incident on Tuesday this week after raiding a number of houses in Harare and Marondera.
Constable Crispen Kado aged 26 and stationed at Rhodesville Police Station in Harare was among the suspects. Police are also holding Jeremiah Tafirenyika, a supervisor at Manyame Milling Company in Marondera who is believed to have supplied the robbers with targets.
The others were identified as Josephat Muchenje (58), Bright Magodhi (22), Felix Dapi (50), Tatenda Mudzungairi (27) and Elias Muchipuwa (41).
Police said the gang is linked to six other armed robberies in Harare, Macheke and Chitungwiza. Ironically, Tafirenyika reported being robbed earlier this year.
“The ZRP will ensure that the law takes its course without fear or favour,” national police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
He commended citizens for “supplying critical information on armed robbery cases in the country.”
Ass Comm Nyathi said on September 26, police acting on a tip-off arrested Muchenje at his home in Marlborough in Harare. They recovered a white Nissan AD vehicle allegedly used as a getaway vehicle at the crime scene. Police also found two cutting discs.
Muchenje led police to his accomplices, resulting in the recovery of four 9mm rounds of ammunition inside Kado’s wardrobe at his Tafara house.
Police say gang was behind the June 10, 2022, armed robbery at a homestead in Macheke where they stole two guns, two TVs, and various groceries all valued at US$3,595.
In the same month, the gang is alleged to have attacked a family in St Mary’s in Chitungwiza before making off with US$1,775, R1,000, a laptop and several mobile phones.
On July 26, the gang struck again at another house in St Mary’s where they posed as police officers searching for dangerous drugs. They stole US$4,500 and several mobile phones. On September 15, they allegedly robbed laptops, food rations and some cash at Rakodzi High School in Marondera.
Three days later, they allegedly pounced at a house in Mt Pleasant where they stole US$55,000, mobile phones, clothes and a South Africa-registered Toyota Fortuner which was later recovered dumped at the intersection of Harare Drive and Mazowe Road.
According to police, Dapi was wanted on a warrant of arrest after skipping court on charges of possession of dangerous drugs and armed robbery dating from 2021.
“He is also under the microscope for a fraudulent bail application at the High Court through a public prosecutor who is also under investigations,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
