HARARE – A second armed robbery suspect has died following a shootout with police in Harare on Saturday, police confirmed.
Richard Mutanga died from gunshot wounds at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Sunday.
Benjamin Musasa, the first to die, was shot and killed after detectives cornered him in a maize field at the corner of Latima Road and Harare Drive.
Prosecutors on Monday charged four others with several counts of armed robbery. One of the suspects, Peter Mushipe, was remanded in custody from his hospital bed after he was also shot.
Mushipe, Malentine Mutasa, Godfrey Josi and Juliet Gavaza were all remanded in custody to July 14 awaiting trial.
Gavaza – who is married to Josi – is charged with money laundering, allegedly after she received armed robbery proceeds and bought a house in Zengeza 5 which she registered in her name.
There was no appearance by Zvidozvashe Zuda, reported arrested by the police in a statement issued on Sunday.
Prosecutors are linking the suspects to several armed robberies in and around Harare in which victims – including a Chinese cannabis farmer – lost over US$500,000.
Mutasa has a pending murder case in Nembudziya in Gokwe, and also faces armed robbery charges in Kadoma.
Josi alone is being charged with at least eight armed robbery counts.
Prosecutors are linking the gang to an armed robbery at the posh Gateway High School in March during which US$250,000 was stolen from a safe.
The National Prosecuting Authority says on June 15, the suspects were part of a large gang that raided the University of Zimbabwe farm compound and robbed cannabis farmer Weng Dong of US$22,000.
They are also alleged to have robbed Seedex company of US$20,000 on March 20 this year.
Prosecutors said they would be adding more charges during the suspects’ next remand date.
According to a police statement, the other robbery incidents include US$60,000 stolen from Muzari suburb in Chinhoyi, and the June 29 robbery of a Beatrice farmer who was stalked and robbed of US$19,800 after selling his potatoes at a market in Harare.
