Tinaani Nyabereka/ Yeukai Munetsi
Gweru-Following a public outcry over a spate of a number of criminal activities, 11 suspects were arrested in Gweru Rural District after a police operation.
Midlands Police Provincial Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko expressed gratitude to the public for working with the police through provision of essential information in tackling crime before urging holders of unlicensed fire arms to surrender them before September 30.
“We thank the public for cooperating with our investigations in these cases.
“I also take this opportunity to warn the public that it is a serious crime to be in possession of a firearm without a licence or to lend a firearm to an unauthorized person. May members of the public in possession of firearms without appropriate authority take advantage of the window period up to September 30, 2022 where they can surrender them to police without being asked questions or charged criminally,”said Mahoko
The 11 suspects are London Ncube (42), Judge Dube (63), Complete Mpofu (39), Petros Chivava (42), Admire Mpofu (18), Bukhosi Mkandla (22) of London Farm, Gweru, Evans Muzabani (20), Witness Nkomazana (22) of Rubi, Tawedzerwa Zhou (27 ) of Zvishavane , Evans Chikwenya (21) of Shurugwi and Brian Ncube (24) of Mambo in Gweru.
Police recovered the following property during investigations: Nissan Vanette motor vehicle robbed from Shurugwi, a Honda Civic car which was being used on the commission of the cases, seven firearms including one pistol, three Bruno rifles, three 303 rifles and an assortment of live rounds of ammunition, 15 cell phones, television sets, gas cylinders, a cutting torch and cash US $1785.
The investigations established that the pistol recovered was smuggled into the country while one rifle had been lent to the suspect by a firearm licence holder with the remaining five having been stolen during robberies.
The 11 appeared initially appeared in court on September 17, 2022 and one suspect, Judge Dube was charged for unlawful possession of ammunition.
