A serving Zimbabwe National Army officer and a police detective are among eight men who allegedly robbed ABC Auctions in Harare of cash and jewellery worth over US$1.2 million, reported ZimLive.
The soldier has been identified as Onisenge Zvomunya (36) and the detective – Kelvin Marimo (42) – was reportedly recently transferred from Makoni Police station to Harare Central Police CID.
Unconfirmed reports claim that Marimo is an elder at a local pentecostal church in Harare.
Zvomunya and Marimo on Thursday appeared before Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere.
They were remanded in custody to 27 October and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
On Thursday, 13 October 2022, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a statement confirming the arrest of three suspects in connection with the robbery incident. Read the statement:
ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH A CASE OF ARMED ROBBERY WHICH OCCURRED AT ABC AUCTIONS, HARARE
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the death of Trymore Bondamakara (37) during a shoot-out with the Police in Epworth and the arrest of Kelvin Marimo (42) and Osinenge Zvomuya (36) in connection with a robbery case which occurred on 7th October 2022 at Sagittarian Private Limited, trading as ABC Auction, along Seke Road, Braeside, Harare in which US$ 1 014 031.00 cash and jewellery worth US$ 250 000.00 were stolen.
On 11th October 2022 detectives from CID Homicide had a confrontation with the suspects, Trymore Bondamakara and Kelvin Marimo after receiving information that linked them to the ABC Auction robbery case.
The suspects implicated Osinenge Zvomuya and Bibience Bondamakara and five other suspects who are still at large.
The detectives arrested Osinenge Zvomuya and recovered US$ 8 520.00 after tracking him to Madziwa, Mashonaland Central.
Investigations by the detectives established that Osinenge Zvomuya bought a residential stand in Madziwa for US$6 000.00 after he was given a share of US$25 000.00 from the money stolen at ABC Auctions.
On 12th October 2022, Police recovered a 0.38 Amadeo Rossi Revolver at Belivista Farm, Epworth from Trymore Bondamakara.
Trymore Bondamakara tried to escape and a shoot-out ensued with the detectives. The suspect was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he died upon admission.
Further investigations by the detectives led to the recovery of the suspect’s get-away vehicle, a Toyota Aqua vehicle, registration number, AFP 3293, three watches, a necklace, two Patric Mavros Silver ladies cuffs, an 18 carat diamond ring, Cartier Fountain pen and four gold rings in Solomio, Ruwa.
The suspects are also linked to an armed robbery case which occurred on 5th October 2022 at a bank along Churchil Road, Gunhill, Harare in which the suspects disarmed a security guard before stealing a 0.22 Special Revolver, Vivo cellphone and two empty chubb safes, and an unlawful entry into premises and theft case which occurred on 06th September 2022 at Edurate Investments along Seke Road, Allington Estates, Hatfield in which US$ 110 000.00 cash was stolen.
Police’s comprehensive investigations in order to clear all the cases in which the suspects are linked are in progress.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified operations against armed robbery syndicates across the country and will not rest until all criminals involved are brought to book.