HARARE – Four young men suspected of carrying out a series of robberies and car thefts across Harare have been arrested after a cellphone recovered from a crashed vehicle helped police trace the alleged gang.
Terence Wachenuka, 19, Onsimo Nyasha Kusekera, 20, Blessing Rugwinya, 26, and Joshua Mutungamiri Chirata, 18, were arrested following investigations into six cases of robbery of motor vehicles and one case of vehicle theft.
The group is accused of targeting motorists in Kuwadzana, Mabelreign and surrounding areas between May 2 and August 12, using a repeated method that placed drivers in danger at intersections, on busy roads and during apparently ordinary lifts.
Police said the suspects often approached motorists when vehicles had slowed down or stopped. They would then force their way into the cars, overpower the drivers and drive away. In some cases, the victims were pushed out or abandoned far from where their vehicles had been taken.
The first incident in the case was reported on May 2. Police said the suspects forced open a motorist’s vehicle doors before shoving the complainant into the rear passenger seat. The man was later dumped in Whitehouse, Harare, while the gang drove away at high speed.
Twelve days later, on May 14, the same method was allegedly used against a taxi driver. The suspects are accused of robbing him of his Toyota Sienta before escaping. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Kuwadzana.
The alleged gang struck again on June 27, when another motorist was robbed of a Toyota RunX. Police said US$1,200 and other valuables were taken during the incident, adding to a growing list of vehicles and property linked to the suspects.
The most revealing incident happened on August 8. The complainant reportedly offered a lift to three men who said they wanted to travel to Kuwadzana Extension. During the journey, the men allegedly told him that they needed to collect their sister.
After arriving in the area where they claimed the woman lived, the three men allegedly pretended that they had lost their way. The situation then changed quickly. Police said they robbed the motorist of his Toyota Raum and drove off, leaving him without his vehicle and valuables.
The stolen Raum did not remain in the gang’s possession for long. On August 12, it was found abandoned in a ditch along Lake Chivero Road in Whitecliff after being involved in an accident. Investigators recovered a toy gun from the vehicle, together with a cellphone.
The cellphone became “a crucial lead” in the investigation. Follow-up inquiries led to the arrest of Wachenuka, who police said admitted involvement in the crimes with the other suspects. The remaining three men were later arrested.
The arrests have highlighted the way a seemingly small mistake can expose an entire criminal operation. The gang allegedly used different locations and targeted different motorists, but the recovery of the cellphone from the wrecked Toyota Raum gave investigators a link to the people believed to be behind the wider series of offences.
The case comes as police continue to deal with vehicle theft and robberies in and around the capital. In June 2025, police recorded a spike in vehicle thefts, with five separate incidents in Harare and Mashonaland West involving six vehicles on a single day.
In Avonlea, Harare, thieves broke into company premises and stole a Toyota Hilux and a Mazda BT50. The criminals also took generators, cement, refrigerators, solar batteries, money-counting machines and a digital camera. The Toyota Hilux was later recovered abandoned in Majuru Village, Kutama.
Another vehicle was stolen in central Harare after its owner left a Honda Fit unlocked at the corner of Leopold Takawira Street and Samora Machel Avenue while attending to other business. The theft showed how quickly an unattended vehicle can become a target, even in a busy part of the city.
Police also recorded vehicle thefts linked to access to keys and unsecured cars. In Ruwa’s Fairview Park, burglars broke into a house, stole household property and took the keys to a Nissan Caravan NV350 before driving the vehicle away. In another case, a man in Karoi lost a Toyota Fun Cargo after allowing a stranger to sleep inside it overnight. The owner had kept the keys in his room, but police said the suspect managed to start the vehicle and drive away, “apparently using unknown means to start and drive the vehicle away”.
The incidents show the different ways motorists can be targeted. Some vehicles were taken during violent confrontations, while others were stolen from business premises, roadsides, homes or parking areas. The Harare gang’s alleged use of lifts added another danger, turning an act of assistance into an opportunity for robbery.
The four suspects appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on August 31 and were remanded in custody. Their arrests have allowed investigators to connect the alleged offenders to the wider group of cases and to examine whether more motorists may have been attacked in the same areas.
Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, the Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson, urged motorists to be careful when dealing with strangers and warned drivers against allowing unknown people into their vehicles.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police continue to warn motorists against offering lifts to strangers. Your vigilance can prevent crime,” said Det-Insp Muteweri.
Motorists in Harare have been urged to keep vehicle doors locked, remain alert when stopping at intersections and avoid leaving cars unattended with keys inside. Drivers have also been advised to check their surroundings before allowing passengers into their vehicles, particularly when approached in isolated areas or when a request for a lift involves a change of destination.
For investigators, the Toyota Raum crash provided the breakthrough that brought the alleged operation into focus. For motorists, the case is a reminder that a short journey, a stopped vehicle or an offer of help can become dangerous when basic precautions are ignored.