HARARE
–
The
firearm
used
to
kill
a
police
officer
at
Sanyati
Police
Station
in
the
early
hours
of
Sunday
is
the
same
weapon
that
was
used
in
the
cold-blooded
murder
of
Ruwa
businessman
Joseph
Mutangadura
in
August,
police
said
on
Monday.
Police
spokesman
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
said
ballistic
tests
on
the
gun,
recovered
following
a
citizens’
arrest
of
suspect
Vengesai
Jabulani
Mutasa,
41,
proved
that
it
was
the
same
firearm
that
shot
Mutangadura
as
he
slept
with
his
wife
on
the
night
of
August
17.
“The
gun
which
killed
the
policeman
is
the
same
pistol
which
killed
the
businessman
Mutangadura,”
Nyathi
said.
Mutasa
was
cornered
at
his
house
in
Sanyati
on
Saturday
night
by
CID
Homicide
detectives
but
fled
half
naked,
Nyathi
said.
He
shot
a
police
officer
named
only
as
Detective
Constable
Ngwenya
as
he
fled,
but
the
officer
survived.
Hours
later,
at
around
2AM
on
Sunday,
Mutasa
walked
into
Sanyati
charge
office
where
he
found
Constable
Courage
Muchechesi
taking
a
statement
from
Abraham
Mayavo,
who
had
been
assaulted.
Mutasa,
say
police,
demanded
to
know
the
whereabouts
of
the
Homicide
detectives
who
had
been
to
his
house,
claiming
they
stole
his
US$1,000
in
cash.
He
ordered
Muchechesi
and
Mavayo
to
lie
down
while
demanding
cash.
Mavayo
handed
over
$5
but
Muchechesi
tried
to
flee
into
an
adjacent
room
but
was
shot
in
the
stomach.
Nyathi
said
after
Mutasa
bolted
from
the
station,
locals
including
people
from
Sanyati,
Kadoma,
Chakari
and
Patchway
hunted
him
down.
“He
was
arrested
by
citizens
whilst
armed
with
a
pistol,”
Nyathi
confirmed.
Mutasa
now
faces
charges
of
double
murder,
attempted
murder
and
possession
of
an
unlicensed
firearm.
The
police
investigation
into
the
murder
of
Mutangadura
at
his
home
and
entertainment
spot,
Mutangadura
Hideout,
along
Dunstan
Road
in
Ruwa,
has
picked
up
speed
after
police
made
a
breakthrough
with
the
arrest
of
Phillip
Mutasa,
38,
in
Mkoba
6,
Gweru,
on
October
3.
Police
believe
eight
suspects
were
involved
in
the
incident,
which
appears
to
have
been
a
robbery
gone
wrong.