In a display of extraordinary courage, a woman from a Hunyani farm in Mhangura fought off three armed robbers who had invaded her home in the early hours of 1 June. The incident, which took place at approximately 1:00 AM, resulted in the death of one of the suspects and the subsequent arrest of the remaining two.
The events unfolded at the residence of the Marimo family, located in Village 2 on the Hunyani Farm. According to Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Inspector Ian Kohwera, the deceased, Tafadzwa Jenami, aged 27, from Mafuta Farm in Raffingora, arrived at the homestead with two accomplices: Tapiwa Bepura, 33, from Chininga Farm in Raffingora, and Tanyaradzwa Alufande, 45, from Yomba Farm, also in Raffingora.
Awakened by the intruders, Mrs. Marimo acted swiftly and with remarkable resolve. Instead of succumbing to fear, she confronted the armed men head-on. Inspector Kohwera explained that the woman bravely jumped out of bed and lunged at Jenami, who was wielding the Stylox rifle, in a desperate attempt to protect both herself and her husband from the imminent danger.
What followed was a fierce struggle between the woman and the lead assailant, Jenami. “The woman continued to fight with Jenami, strangling him in an attempt to disarm him,” Inspector Kohwera stated.
The commotion roused Misheck Marimo from his sleep, only to find his wife already engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the intruders. In a valiant attempt to assist his wife, Mr. Marimo intervened, but was met with brutal force. Inspector Mahoko reported that he was struck in the head with the butt of the rifle, causing him to collapse and lose consciousness.
Despite the setback of her husband’s injury, Mrs. Marimo refused to yield. Showing incredible resilience, she continued her fight against the robbers. Inspector Mahoko further explained that the woman did not back down, continuing to fight the robbers and eventually overpowering Tafadzwa Jenami by continuously strangling him, causing him to collapse and also lose consciousness.
The sounds of the struggle alerted neighbours, who rushed to the Marimo’s aid. Their arrival prompted the remaining two robbers to flee the scene, leaving their unconscious accomplice behind.
Upon arriving at the scene, the neighbours assisted both Tafadzwa Jenami and Misheck Marimo in regaining consciousness. Inspector Kohwera stated that “Some of the people who had arrived helped Tafadzwa Jenami and Misheck Marimo regain consciousness. The majority of the villagers then tied Tafadzwa Jenami’s hands and feet, and he then revealed the names of his accomplices who had come with him to rob the house.”
However, the story took a grim turn. “At around 0500 hours, Tafadzwa Jenami requested water to drink, which was given to him. He drank it and died shortly afterwards,” Inspector Kohwera confirmed. The exact cause of Jenami’s death is yet to be officially determined, pending the results of a post-mortem examination.
The Mhangura police were promptly notified of the incident and launched an immediate investigation. Their efforts led to the swift apprehension of the two fleeing suspects, Tapiwa Bepura and Tanyaradzwa Alufande.
Inspector Kohwera confirmed that “Tafadzwa Jenami’s body was taken to the Chinhoyi Hospital mortuary, where it awaited a post-mortem examination. Misheck Marimo was also taken to Chinhoyi Hospital, where he was treated. The two robbers are expected to appear in court soon on charges of armed robbery. The firearm they were using is also being examined to determine its origin and whether it is properly registered.”
While praising Mrs. Marimo’s extraordinary bravery, Inspector Kohwera issued a cautionary statement. “However, we urge the public not to put their lives at risk when confronted by robbers. As the police in Mashonaland West province, we are concerned about the increase in cases of robbery by armed robbers using firearms and other weapons,” he said.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the prevalence of armed robberies in the Mashonaland West province and the need for increased vigilance and community involvement in crime prevention. The police are urging residents to report any suspicious activity and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat crime.
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