GWERU – A movie-style high-speed chase between a gang of alleged armed robbers and a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) crack team brought the City of Gweru to a standstill on Friday, ending with one innocent woman dead and another battling for life.
The incident, which occurred at around 11AM near the Boogey Clock downtown, left many bystanders shaken as the speeding bandits struck and killed a 38-year-old woman who was crossing the street, with a stolen Toyota Fortuner, and injured a young girl who was rushed to hospital.
With detectives in hot pursuit, the robbers lost control after impact and rammed into a Nissan Navara at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Way and E.D Mnangagwa Street, formerly Main Street, police said.
Two suspects – still at large – bailed on foot, while the other two were apprehended after being trapped in the car.
The alleged criminals had hijacked the Toyota Fortuner in Victoria Falls, prompting a search by detectives, who tracked the vehicle and caught up with them as they entered the City of Gweru.
“On approaching R. Mugabe Way, Gweru, the Toyota Fortuner hit two pedestrians who were crossing the road from the left side to the right side,” police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told ZimLive.
“As a result, the Toyota Fortuner went on to hit the Nissan Navara and finally stopped after ramming onto a kerb next to an underground toilet.
“The driver and another suspect ran away while the other two suspects Munyariwa Polite, 49, and Wellington Makore, 42, were arrested,” Nyathi added.
He dismissed reports of a shootout that had circulated on social media saying “no shootout or exchange of fire was involved in this incident as alleged.”
“Criminals who steal motor vehicles and then speed through public places while endangering the lives of innocent members of the public will face the full wrath of the law,” Nyathi warned.
The owner of the damaged Nissan Navara Robert Chida, who stays in Kwekwe, told ZimLive he was lucky to escape uninjured.
“We were already in the intersection as the car just rammed into us as it was coming from Bulawayo Road and I did not really see the occupants or what happened as I was now busy trying to stop my car,” he said.
“No one was injured in the car; the only person I saw that got injured was the lady who was hit.”
Another witness Naison Sibanda said: “It was by God’s grace that we survived the accident and it’s really sad that a life was lost and an innocent young child was seriously injured.
“After the car came to a stop, a male driver and a woman stormed out of the vehicle while the other two failed to get out in time and were caught and arrested by the police.”
A visibly shaken ice-cream vendor who also witnessed the tragedy, said he was so stunned he “didn’t move from my spot”.
