MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO – Two notorious armed robbers who had terrorized Masvingo businesses were on Valentine’s Day arrested the third one gunned down by police’s CID crack squad at Ngundu Growth Point.
The deceased robber has been identified as Pardon Shoko (36) a known Zanu PF sympathizer from Runyararo West and son to popular healer known as Mbuya Dhoro.
According to a police memo in the possession of The Midweek Watch the gang is linked to a spate of armed robberies which occurred in Masvingo recently including Redan Pangolin Service Station in Mucheke D and at Zexcom Shops, where the gang stole some cash.
Police identified the other arrested gang members as Brian Jazi(36) of house number 1608 Gimboki, Dangamvura in Mutare, Joseph Makuvise(43) of Village Makuvise under Chief Mataruse in Gutu.
Police said its intelligence unit had put the gang under surveillance as a result of an increase of armed robbers in the city.
On the fateful day the police gathered information that the accused persons intended to commit armed robberies in Chiredzi and they quickly deployed a proactive team comprising eight police intelligence operatives and four support unit details to monitor the gang’s movements.
The police then divided themselves into two groups and travelled towards Ngundu along Masvingo –Beitbridge road.
Upon arrival at Ngundu – Tanganda turn off, an advance team spotted the accused persons’ vehicle parked off the road under a tree.
The advance team then alerted the second team for a reaction and before the reaction had arrived the accused persons then disembarked from their Toyota Runx and were intercepted by the police details who ordered them to lie down.
However, Shoko resisted the order and withdrew his ESPANA pistol serial c18348 and aimed it at the police officers.
This prompted one of the support unit details to react by firing one shot aimed at the deceased’s shoulder with the intention to disarm him.
He was taken to Ngundu clinic and was pronounced dead upon arrival while his other gang members were immediately arrested.
Police recovered the pistol which was loaded with two live rounds one round in the magazine and the other in the chamber
Searches were made and recovered US$40 and in the car they found twelve black cable ties, a hammer, black and silver torch and two cell phones.
The accused’s car was handed to ZRP Ngundu for safe custody and the body of the deceased will be conveyed to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for post-mortem.
