By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Police have apprehended three men from Hopley, Harare, in connection with a violent farm robbery that netted US$75,000 in cash from the in-laws of flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
Authorities are now pursuing additional suspects, including a police officer stationed at Kopje Police Station.
The brazen heist occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when approximately 20 heavily armed men stormed Alpha Omega Farm in Marondera. Armed with rifles, pistols, machetes, and iron bars, the assailants overpowered security guards before breaking into the farmhouse and stealing a significant amount of cash and personal belongings.
According to investigators, the stolen money is believed to be part of the bride price Chivayo recently paid for his wife, Lulu Muteke, during their traditional marriage ceremony on March 8.
The organized attack began just after 1 a.m., when a guard stationed at the southside guardroom was ambushed by the gang. Police sources reported that the guard was restrained with cable ties while about 19 armed men advanced towards the farmhouse, overpowering other security personnel and disarming one guard of his shotgun.
Once inside, the robbers confronted 37-year-old Gerald Mutuke, forcing him to surrender US$18,000 in cash, a Sarsilmaz pistol, and two mobile phones. Vimbai Muteke, 43, was also targeted, handing over US$1,100, her phone, and the keys to a safe. The gang then breached a safe in the main bedroom, retrieving an additional US$55,000.
As the robbers attempted to flee, a courageous neighbor fired two shots from a distance using a .303 rifle after hearing the chaos. The gang responded with several shots of their own before escaping in a large white truck that had been seen parked near the property ahead of the raid.
In the aftermath, police recovered an iron bar left behind by the suspects, which is being analyzed for fingerprints as part of the investigation.
Following swift investigative efforts, authorities arrested three suspects from Hopley and continue to search for other gang members, including the police officer, raising concerns of potential insider involvement in the robbery.