Driving trucks on the dilapidated Harare-Chirundu Highway has become a nightmare for drivers as robbers pounce on slow-moving trucks even in broad daylight.
Jonas Kabasa, a 41-year-old truck driver who uses the route frequently, told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200013425/highway-robbers-cause-havoc">NewsDay</a> that the highway is now regarded as a death trap for local and regional travellers.
Kabasa, who was born and raised in Chinhoyi, drives trucks from South Africa to Zambia, Malawi or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He said:
<blockquote>
Of late, many travellers have been forced to sleep over along the highway, especially when travelling during the night after hitting deep gullies and potholes that are now permanent features along the way.
The road is no longer easy to travel on due to potholes.
Of late, some cars have been left on the roadside due to tyre punctures, malfunctioning engines affected by water from big potholes along the highway, especially during the rainy season.
</blockquote>
Machete-wielding highway robbers popularly known as “Makaramata”, derived from how they get on top of a moving vehicle with ease because of the slow speeds, have also become a menace. Said Kabasa:
<blockquote>
The Harare-Chirundu Highway is now a double tragedy for night drivers as we battle to navigate the potholed road from Chinhoyi to Chirundu which is now a death trap.
The worst is that we have to endure highway attacks by robbers, especially from Mapinga, Chikuti and Kasimure areas.
</blockquote>
Tapera Rukambwa, a resident at Mapinga business centre said a masked robber has attacking people during the day when they stop to relieve themselves while enjoying the Mapinga scenery of the Great Dyke.
Speaking to NewsDay, a member of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from Bindura said they had to open fire to apprehend a robber a few years ago. Said the detective:
<blockquote>
A Bindura gold dealer lost some cash after he was raided at Mapinga lay-by by the suspect.
He provided us with transport as we investigated the matter.
We ambushed the robber around the area and spotted him in the bush, but he outran us all while ignoring warning shots.
He was finally shot in the leg. He led us to the place where he keeps his loot.
He had several thousands of US dollars in stolen money.
</blockquote>
In April, a truck bound for Zambia was robbed at Chikuti about 180km from Harare.
Two suspects, armed with machetes and knobkerries, forced the driver to stop and confronted him and three other passengers demanding money.
The truck driver was robbed of US$1 500 while we surrendered at least US$500.
In January this year, P<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/01/12/robbers-targetting-haulage-trucks-along-harare-chirundu-highway-police/">olice warned haulage truck drivers to avoid travelling at night on the Harare-Chirundu highway</a> saying there were dangerous criminals on the prowl targeting trucks between 7 PM and 5 AM
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Machete-wielding Robbers Target Motorists

Three artisanal miners were attacked and killed by two machete-wielding men in Murereka, Mashonaland West Province after a dispute over a girlfriend.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said two of the three artisanal miners died on the spot while the other died upon admission to a local clinic. Reads the report:
<blockquote>
ZRP Murereka is investigating a case of murder which occurred on 29/09/22 at Village 19 Shops, Chikuti. Two artisanal mires, Tinashe Nyanguwo (38) and Joshua Kadungure (37) were attacked with machetes by the suspects, only identified as Rastar and Peter after an argument over a girlfriend. Tinashe Nyanguwo died on the spot while Joshua Kadungure died upon admission at a local clinic. 
</blockquote>
Police appealed to members of the public to contact any nearest Police Station if they have information that can be useful in the investigation of the case.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Three Artisanal Miners Killed In A Dispute Over A Girlfriend

The Police in a restore law and order in mining communities operation has rounded up 1536 illegal miners countrywide, The Herald reports.
191 have already been jailed for different crimes ranging from mining without a license to trespassing. The arrests were confirmed by ZRP National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Paul_Nyathi">Paul Nyathi</a> who said:
<blockquote>
ZRP assures the nation that follow-ups are going to be vigorously undertaken on anyone involved in machete-wielding gang acts and illegal mining. The police are working flat out to ensure that law and order is maintained throughout the country.
The ongoing operation against illegal mining and machete-wielding gangs has so far accounted for 1 536 accused persons. The police recovered several vehicles, firearms, a toy gun, explosives, machetes, pepper sprays, ammunition, digital scale and assorted mining implements. 
</blockquote>
Machete-wielding gangs have headlined for the wrong reasons for weeks now including killing a police officer and robbing and r_ping women in some areas.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/190-illegal-miners-jailed-as-arrests-top-1-500/">The Herald</a>

ZRP Arrests 1536 Illegal Miners Countrywide

In this video, a machete-wielding gang known as Magiza is seen showcasing their weapons and bragging that violence is their thing they will be here even in 2030 as violence is their tagline.
Watch the video below:
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lyxIWAtmLr0?feature=oembed" title='Violent Machete Gang "Maziga" caught on camera with machetes' width="640"></iframe></div>

Armed robbers Latest News

Latest Jobs