Publications
Partners
Zimbabwe's law enforcement agents are reportedly on high alert following a recent spate of armed robberies and heinous rape cases across the country.
According to Daily News, police spokesperson Charity Charamba confirmed the development, adding that the police were closing in on the suspected criminals.
The suspects, the report said, included a gang of rogue taxi drivers who "raped and murdered" women.
Charamba said the suspects were also likely coming from neighbouring countries that included Mozambique and South Africa.
Manicaland province police had since engaged their Mozambique counterparts in an attempt to root out the growing scourge.
"It's unfortunate that we have had several cases of women victims, but the robbers are targeting anyone and not just females – and they even roping in female accomplices in their criminal activities," Charamba was quoted as saying.
This was not the first time that armed robberies were reported in Zimbabwe. According to All Africa.com, at least five suspected armed robbers who terrorised the whole country, were arrested and appeared in court in January.
The group was arrested at a hideout at a Harare lodge after robbing a Glen Norah couple of $39 000 and some bond notes.
The five men were identified as Mikia Pirikisi, 31, Tariro Mutsamanye, 31, Daniel Michael Munyanyi, 40, Gilbert Tavagadza, 47 and Leonard Huni 34.
The gang were said to have moved around the country armed with a pistol which they would use interchangeably.
They would also arm themselves with iron bars among other weapons, which they used to scare their victims, said the report.
Police investigation led to the arrest of two of the accused who then named the rest of their accomplices.
* Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTER
