HARARE
–
Four
suspected
armed
robbers
were
killed
in
a
shootout
with
police
in
Warren
Park,
Harare,
following
a
crackdown
on
a
gang
linked
to
a
series
of
violent
robberies
across
the
capital
in
February
and
March
2026,
police
said
on
Wednesday.
Two
other
suspects
–
Nelson
Chitima,
28,
and
Edson
Guvira,
38,
–
were
arrested.
The
four
who
died
were
identified
as
Mike
Manyima,
37,
Office
Chanakira,
38,
and
two
others
known
only
as
Atenzi
and
Chris.
All
four
were
pronounced
dead
upon
admission
to
Parirenyatwa
Group
of
Hospitals.
On
March
30,
detectives
from
CID
Homicide
Harare
moved
on
a
tip-off
and
arrested
Nelson
Chitima
at
his
Glenview
7
Extension
residence.
Chitima
named
his
accomplices
and
assisted
detectives
in
luring
Edson
Guvira
to
Mhishi
Shopping
Centre.
When
Guvira
spotted
the
officers
and
fled,
police
fired
warning
shots.
He
allegedly
did
not
stop
and
was
shot
in
the
leg,
leading
to
his
arrest.
A
Nissan
NV350
getaway
vehicle,
a
white
balaclava,
two
pairs
of
gloves
and
an
assortment
of
liquor
were
recovered.
Further
investigations
led
detectives
to
Warren
Park
1
Shopping
Centre,
where
Manyima,
Chanakira,
Atenzi
and
Chris
were
observed
arriving
in
a
Toyota
Passo,
reportedly
planning
another
robbery.
When
police
identified
themselves
and
ordered
the
suspects
to
surrender,
the
suspects
allegedly
opened
fire.
A
shootout
ensued
and
all
four
were
fatally
wounded,
national
police
spokesman
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
said.
A
search
of
the
suspects’
getaway
vehicle
yielded
a
significant
cache
of
weapons
and
evidence,
including
a
.70
Vozol
pistol
with
a
three-round
magazine,
a
.38
Rossi
revolver
loaded
with
one
round,
a
Supercat
1911
pellet
gun,
35
x
9mm
live
rounds,
eight
detonators,
four
fuses,
a
paper
spray,
a
balaclava,
four
mobile
phones
and
two
national
identity
cards
belonging
to
Manyima
and
Chanakira.
Three
additional
vehicles
were
also
recovered:
a
Black
Toyota
Hiace,
a
purple
Toyota
Passo
and
a
red
Honda
Fit.
Nyathi
said
the
gang
is
being
linked
to
multiple
robberies,
including
a
break-in
at
Kuwadzana
2
Shopping
Centre
on
February
25
in
which
goods
worth
US$500
were
stolen;
an
attack
on
security
guards
at
Aspindale
on
February
26,
2026,
during
which
a
.38
Rossi
revolver
was
stolen;
and
a
raid
on
a
Glen
Norah
liquor
store
on
March
25,
2026,
in
which
lager
beers
and
whisky
valued
at
US$1,989
were
taken.
Nyathi
said
“there
is
no
going
back
in
the
fight
against
armed
robbery
cases
in
the
country”
and
police
would
“decisively
respond
appropriately
to
any
form
of
violent
confrontation
by
armed
robbery
gangs.”