POLICE yesterday said they had launched a manhunt for two suspected armed robbers who raided the Mapuvire homestead in Muguti village, Chivi, on Saturday and made off with goods and cash all amounting to $42 000.
BY STAFF REPORTER
In a statement last night, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the suspects arrived at the homestead in the evening brandishing pistols and ordered all the 16 family members to sit down quietly as they ransacked the house.
They then locked up the family members in separate rooms after stealing cellphones, cash and other household goods and commandeered one of the family members to drive them to Ngundu junction where they jumped off the vehicle and disappeared into the night.
The Mapuvire family runs several retail businesses in Masvingo and the Midlands provinces.
In another matter, police said they arrested seven suspected copper cable thieves at the 305km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road on Tuesday evening. Charamba said police patrol officers became curious when they saw the suspects’ pick-up truck parked by the roadside.
The police officers then searched the vehicle and recovered 1 760kg of copper cables and overhead copper conductors stashed under used batteries in a trailer attached to the vehicle.
The suspects were arrested after they failed to produce a licence for the cables while their vehicle was impounded. They are expected to appear in court soon.
