Police Arrest Three Men in Connection With Murder of Officer and Armed Robbery Spree in Bulawayo

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – 2 April 2025

By A Correspondent | ZimEye | The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of a police officer and a series of armed robberies that terrorized Bulawayo over the past year.

According to a statement issued by ZRP today, Mandlenkosi Albert Munangati (26), Clifford Desmond Nare (33), and Thabo Dube (24) have been apprehended in relation to the murder of Sergeant Abel Masava. The officer was gunned down in Sizinda, Bulawayo, at approximately 0030 hours on 28 March 2025.

Police recovered the firearm used in the officer’s killing and linked the suspects to a spate of armed robberies in the city, stretching from 22 April 2024 to 28 March 2025.

A breakthrough came on 30 March 2025 when detectives tracked a Honda Fit vehicle, registration AGG 8380, believed to be connected to the crimes. Munangati was apprehended and subsequently implicated his co-accused. The operation led to the seizure of five weapons, including a National Browning pistol, a Blow F92 blank pellet gun, a 12GA long rifle, a Vizor pistol, a shotgun, and a sword.

Two additional suspects, Sipho Ncube (24) and Dumisani Ndlovu (32), attempted to flee and engaged in a shootout with detectives along Harrow Road.

Police say investigations are ongoing, and more details will be released in due course.

This is a developing story.