By A Correspondent- Police in Harare has arrested six suspected armed robbers and carjackers after a shoot-out near the Mabvuku turn-off along Mutare Road on the eastern outskirts of Harare.

One of the suspects was shot and injured on the left knee as he tried to flee the scene after detectives had cornered the gang. He was taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

The arrested suspects are Isaac Kufa (36) of Hatfield, Tonderai Murupiri (28), Patrick Mbundire (21), Casper Chigariro (42), all of Epworth, Hardlife Steven Makwarimba alias Stavo (45) of Goromonzi and Charles Yekeye (47) of Unit O in Chitungwiza.

Investigations show that Kufa, Murupiri, Mbundire and Chigariro would allegedly hijack vehicles before passing them onto Makwarimba and Yekeye to sell to unsuspecting people.

In one of the cases, Kufa is alleged to have gone to a car sale in the city and approached Mr Lemeo Chidziva alleging that he wanted to purchase an Isuzu double cab.

He asked for a test drive and Mr Chidziva joined him. Kufa then drove the vehicle to Newlands where he lied that he wanted to pick up his mechanic but he picked up Murupiri.

They then drove back to the car sale where the two said they wanted to test drive a black Mercedes Benz C200. Mr Chidziva agreed and the three drove towards Chisipite.

When they reached the roundabout along ED Mnangagwa Road, Mr Chidziva suggested they returned but Murupiri, who was seated in the back, allegedly grabbed him by the neck and handcuffed him.

He dragged him to the back seat and ordered him to lie down at gunpoint. The two allegedly dumped him in a bushy area in Goromonzi before driving off.

The vehicle was fixed with a tracker and detectives managed to track it on Thursday while it was parked at a house in Strathaven, leading to its recovery.

At the house, they found Mr Tashinga Maziriri (25) who was in the process of buying the car from Makwarimba and Yekeye.

He led the detectives to the two who were arrested while waiting to receive money from him in Southerton.

Makwarimba and Yekeye then led detectives to the Mabvuku turnoff where the other four accomplices were waiting for their share of the money.

After seeing that the four had been cornered, Mbundire attempted to flee and warning shots were fired but he did not take heed, resulting in him being shot on the left knee.

He was found in possession of a Mazda BT50 car key in his pocket.
The vehicle had been taken by the four suspects from an ex-Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service officer, George Denga (62), in a carjacking on Tuesday.

It was recovered from a bushy area in Mabvuku and investigations are still in progress.