A man has been arrested for selling out his employer to a gang of armed robbers who later mistakenly stormed the house of a former detective.
The man, a 21-year-old Zimbabwean identified as Tanaka Nyamhunga, was said to have directed a five-man robbery team to the house of his employer, but they mistakenly arrived at the house of a former Central Investigations Department (CID) Homicide detective, Joseph Nemaisa.
The incident, which reportedly happened on the 6th December 2021 resulted in Nemaisa shooting dead three of the five armed robbers, who had scaled a precast security wall at his residence and tortured his family.
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Although two other members of the gang identified as a former police officer, Francis Takura, and a soldier, Virimai Nyandoro escaped the shooting, and allegedly got away with US$850, a laptop, a mobile phone, and a shotgun.
Nemaisa, who retired after 19 years of service to take up a career as a lawyer, was not home. He arrived within minutes after getting a call from his son and took on the balaclava-clad gang, shooting three dead, including two soldiers.
The informant, Nyamhunga, who is employed by Top Parts and Tyres Company, on Saturday, December 11, appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga, who remanded him in custody to December 28 pending trial.
Confirming the arrest and development, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner, Paul Nyathi said;
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga (21) in connection with the armed robbery incident which occurred at Joseph Nemaisa’s Chadcombe residence on 6th December 2021,” he stated.
“Comprehensive Police investigations have revealed that, Nemaisa’s family was a case of the wrong target as Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga had given his accomplices some information on some cash transactions by a company where he is employed.
“He told his accomplices that the money is kept at his employer’s house in Chadcombe. The employer stays about four to five houses away from Nemaisa’s residence.
“The attack on Nemaisa’s residence is therefore a case of mistaken identity or target as Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga was in constant touch with Tariro Gora with a view of having his employer targeted by the armed robbers,” he said.
“Investigations to link the suspects to more other cases are still underway as Police are hunting other suspects and accomplices linked to the gang. The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns all criminals that Police have stepped up efforts to pluck them out and bring sanity to all communities. Members of the public are urged to continue cooperating with the Police on all criminal matters.” he added.
