BULAWAYO, Mar. 25 (NewsDay Live) – Police in Masvingo have confirmed the arrest of two serial armed robbers who had been terrorising Kwekwe residents, targeting network service providers’ base stations.
Masvingo police spokesperson Kuda Dhewa identified the suspects as Stanley Chifodya (32) and Kudakwashe Mazvidza (26).
“Between October 2025 and March 2026, Kwekwe and surrounding areas experienced a spate of diesel and battery thefts from network service providers’ base stations. A total of 9,000 litres of diesel and four generator batteries were stolen,” said Dhewa.
He said in one incident on December 7, 2025, the suspects — along with accomplices still at large — armed themselves with breaking implements and a .303 rifle before targeting a base station.
“They scaled the fence, assaulted the security guard and threatened him with a firearm,” Dhewa said.
The gang siphoned diesel from the generator and stole a battery.
During December, the suspects allegedly used the same modus operandi to strike multiple sites, including a network booster in Mbizo 7 where they siphoned 1,630 litres of diesel. They later hit another booster, stealing 938 litres, and a Mbizo 15 base station, where they took 1,200 litres.
“On December 15, 2025, at around 2am, they struck again at another booster, assaulted security guards and stole 540 litres of diesel, along with a generator battery,” Dhewa added.
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On February 12, 2026, the suspects allegedly returned to another base station but fled after being confronted by alert security guards.
“They abandoned three 40-litre containers filled with diesel and 20 empty containers,” said Dhewa.
In another incident on March 14, the gang siphoned 200 litres of diesel undetected.
Their activities came to an end on March 20, 2026, when police on patrol in Amaveni, Kwekwe, noticed a suspiciously parked vehicle near a base station.
“They observed the suspects draining diesel from a generator, leading to the arrest of two, while others fled,” Dhewa said.
Police recovered a .303 rifle, 26 empty 40-litre containers, one filled container and various breaking implements.
Further investigations led to the recovery of two batteries and 1,540 litres of diesel.
The pair now faces two counts of robbery, eight counts of theft and an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. They appeared at the Kwekwe Regional Court and were remanded in custody to April 7, 2026.
Police are appealing for information leading to the arrest of the remaining suspects: Washington Ndlovu, Takudzwa Hwaire, Mutsa Muzwarimwe and Regis.
