A 23-year-old man was shot dead and two others arrested in a police operation in Bulawayo after investigators linked the trio to five robberies reported over 2 days in Umguza. In Harare, meanwhile, two men have each been jailed for an effective 9 years for a gunpoint raid on a Mukuru money-transfer branch that netted US$5,631 and R26,600.
The Bulawayo suspects were identified as Austin Nkomazana, 23, Nkosikhona Ndlovu, 23, and their alleged accomplice Average Ndlovu, also 23, who was known as SaAaron. The shooting happened in Norwood in the early hours of Tuesday, October 20, as police tracked the men in connection with robberies reported in Umguza on October 18 and 19.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the three had been under close surveillance. He said officers first fired warning shots, but the suspects continued advancing towards them. Average Ndlovu was hit in the chest and taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other 2 men were arrested.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of two robbery suspects, Austin Nkomazana (23) and Nkosikhona Ndlovu (23) and the death of their accomplice, Average Ndlovu (23), alias SaAaron, following a shootout with police officers in Norwood, Bulawayo. The suspects were being tracked by the police in connection with five robbery cases which occurred in Umguza on 18 and 19 October 2026,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
Among the incidents under investigation was an attack on a woman and her 3 children at their home. Police said the gang was armed with machetes, axes and knives. Nyathi said the robbers took US$2,000 and other belongings valued at US$2,460.
“Armed with machetes, axes and knives, they attacked a woman and her three children at their home in Umguza and allegedly stole US$2 000 as well as other valuables valued at US$2 460,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
In another case on October 18, the men allegedly broke into a house, took US$300 and escaped in the complainant’s Honda Fit. The vehicle was later abandoned after a road accident. Police have linked the suspects to 5 cases in total across the 2 days, although details of the remaining reported robberies were not set out in the account of the operation.
Nyathi said the officers opened fire after warning shots failed to stop the men from advancing.
“Police officers fired warning shots, but the suspects continued advancing towards them, prompting the police to open fire. Average Mdlovu was shot and sustained a gunshot wound on the chest and was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead upon admission.”
The police spokesperson warned people involved in violent crime against attacking officers. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns criminal syndicates and individuals involved in violent criminal activities that the police will not stand by and allow officers to be attacked while executing their lawful duties. Any attempt to attack police officers will be met with a lawful and proportionate response in accordance with the law,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
The Bulawayo operation came as a separate robbery case reached sentencing in Harare. Tanaka Java, 42, and Ronald Rupare, 28, were convicted over the February 7 raid on a Mukuru Money Transfer outlet at Zuva Service Station in Mabelreign. The pair had acted with a third accomplice, who remains at large.
The robbery took place around midday. The court heard that the men confronted a female teller as she came back from the toilet. They met her at the back door, threatened her with a firearm and ordered her to open the safe. The robbers left with US$5,631 and R26,600.
Their escape drew attention from nearby workers and members of the public. A worker from a nearby business chased after them while calling for help, and other people joined the pursuit. Java was caught by members of the public. A balaclava and R10,000 were recovered from him. Rupare was later arrested by 2 police officers on patrol. The suspects and the recovered money were handed over to police.
CCTV footage from the outlet formed part of the evidence in the case. The Harare Magistrates Court sentenced each man to 12 years in prison. Two years were suspended for 5 years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence. A further year was suspended on condition that each man repays Mukuru US$2,815.50 and R8,300, leaving each with an effective 9-year term.
The sentence followed a series of other robbery cases reported in recent months, including a failed raid on a shop outside Bulawayo in which the owner returned fire. Six men appeared before a regional magistrate over the attempted robbery at Warringham plots. The shop is a tuckshop on the outskirts of the city.
The court heard that the incident happened at about 2.30pm on October 14. The businessman was in his bedroom while employees served customers. Two men allegedly entered and bought a packet of sausages while looking over the premises. As they left, 3 more men came in pretending to be customers.
Prosecutor Karen Gundani told the court: “As they left, three others entered, also pretending to be customers,”
One of the suspects allegedly produced a pistol and demanded money from the workers. The shop owner came out of his bedroom to see what was happening. The accused allegedly opened fire at him. He took cover and returned fire with his legally registered 9mm FN Browning pistol, which had been issued for the protection of cash in transit.
“Upon being confronted by the complainant, the accused persons opened fire towards the complainant, who dashed for cover and returned fire using his legally registered pistol, issued for the protection of cash in transit,” said Ms Gundani.
The men fled through the premises and into nearby bush without taking property or injuring anyone. Detectives recovered 4 spent 9mm cartridges at the scene. A search party found one suspect hiding in a thicket and recovered a PAK pellet gun without a serial number. Police later arrested Forward Dube and Norman Hadebe in Magwegwe North, where officers had set an ambush. The other men were arrested in Bulawayo city centre, where investigators said they intended to regroup before travelling to South Africa.
The 6 accused are Thabo Ndlovu, 29, Mennerd Sibanda, 24, Forward Dube, 29, Prince Makhaza, Lerato Takane and Norman Hadebe, 52. Ndlovu, Sibanda, Makhaza, Dube and Takane are based in Johannesburg, while Hadebe lives in Magwegwe North. They were remanded in custody to October 30 and advised to apply to the High Court for bail.
A Harare householder was also targeted twice by the same pair in a separate case. Bright Chiteshe, 28, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of 2 robberies at a home in Dzivaresekwa Extension. His co-accused, Brian Chiteshe, 28, was acquitted.
The first raid took place at about 1.20am on February 15. The pair threatened the homeowner and her son, searched the house and took electronic goods, including mobile phones, a laptop and a tablet. They demanded the keys to a Honda Fit but were unable to drive it and left without the vehicle.
They returned on March 1, entered through a window and took 2 mobile phones, cash and the car keys. This time they drove away in the Honda Fit. On April 16, detectives received information that the vehicle was being advertised for sale on social media. Police traced it to Highfield, Harare, and arrested the 2 men.
The Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson, Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, confirmed Chiteshe’s conviction and sentence. “In a case of repeated targeting, robbery suspect Bright Chiteshe, aged 28 of Nyakudya Village, Chief Rwizi, Mhondoro, was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison at the Harare Magistrates Court for two counts of robbery,” she said.
Police have also reported larger robbery cases in Harare and Kwekwe. In late September, detectives arrested Tendai Nzvenga, 39, in Mpopoma, Bulawayo, after receiving information that he was hiding there. Police said he was linked to 3 armed robberies involving cash and goods worth more than US$1.2 million. The cases included a raid on N. Richards Shop in Graniteside, where cash and valuables worth US$38,316, R1,950 and ZiG74,370 were taken; a robbery in Marlborough involving about US$597,000; and a raid at a cement company in Redcliff, Kwekwe, involving about US$600,612.
Police said Nzvenga implicated Dingani Mpofu, 49, and Witness Hlongwane, 40, who had already been arrested and remanded in custody. In another case in Bindura, 3 men were arrested over the theft of about 300kg of pregnant gold carbon from a mine. The suspects and 3 accomplices allegedly attacked 2 security guards at about 1am on September 25. The 3 men arrested in Bindura appeared in court and were remanded in custody.
In the Mukuru case, the National Prosecuting Authority urged businesses and members of the public to remain alert and report suspected crime promptly. The verdicts and arrests across these separate cases have left investigators pursuing remaining suspects, including the third man involved in the Mabelreign robbery and 3 accomplices named in the Bindura mine case.