Masvingo gun related cases disturbing
Brian Rungano Temba
Masvingo City Residents are living in constant fear in the wake of recent spate of armed robberies that has engulfed the ancient City, with the latest one that ended fatally for the victim in the high density streets of Mucheke.
According to a report by Zimbabwe Republic Police posted on their Twitter handle, the victim was shot while he and his wife were packing up to close their tuck shop after a day’s sales.
“ Police in Masvingo are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of an unknown suspect who shot dead a tuck shop owner, Mr Michael Munhungowarwa (41) with a pistol before stealing unknown amount of cash on Saturday January 7, 2023 at around 21.00hrs along Kaguvi Street, Mucheke B, Masvingo.”
“The Suspect is said to have pounced at the tuck shop when the victim and his wife, Martha Taguta (26) were packing groceries while preparing to close the shop for the day,” read the twitter thread.
In another case Police arrested another man for being in possession of unregistered fire arm.
“On Friday January 6, 2023 Police in Masvingo acted on receiving information and arrested Sibenzu Sibanda (35) at Makato Business Centre, in connection with possession of an unregistered pistol with a magazine of six rounds,” tweeted ZRP.
In March last year the Police banned the carrying of traditional weapons in Masvingo but law breakers have resorted to modern weaponry.
The trafficking of unregistered firearms is believed to be coming through Beitbridge, Zimbabwe’s busiest port of entry, from South Africa. With the flushing out of touts at the newly upgraded border post, most of them have resorted to armed robbery and burglary.
According to sources, getting an untraceable fire arm on the black market can cost you up to USD $300 as these guns are now hot on the streets following President Emerson Mnangagwa’s call for the surrender of unregistered guns to the police.
By September 2022 over 540 firearms had been surrendered to the police with on one instance 46 guns being surrendered in one day.
Police in Masvingo are still investigating the gun crimes and call upon the public to report any information that can assist the investigation
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