HARARE – Police have named six of the seven suspected armed robbers who shot dead a 10-month-old tot in Macheke on Tuesday morning.
Police said the men robbed a family of US$500 and a Toyota Fortuner in Murehwa, before driving 60km to Macheke where a botched robbery attempt left a child dead and its mother nursing injuries.
A tracker in the vehicle put detectives on the tail of the robbers who were cornered after the second robbery.
Police said those in custody are Trust Sakavengwa, 37, of Chitungwiza, Gift Nhema of Shamva, Clemence Muterengwende, 38, of Seke and brothers Pearson Machipisa, 29, Panganai Machipisa, 36, and Brian Machipisa, 38, all of Chitingwiza.
Pearson Machipisa has a shop selling stationary and laptops directly opposite the Harare Central Police Station, ZimLive understands.
National police spokesman Assistant Paul Nyathi said a seventh man, only identified as Dread, is being sought.
Police said the men first targeted the Madhumbu family in Murewa on Monday night where they got away with an estimated US$500 and drove off in a South Africa-registered Toyota Fortuner.
The gang then raided the home Shephard Haruzivi in Macheke at around 1AM on Tuesday.
Haruzivi, who was also armed, reportedly shot twice at the thugs but missed. The robbers returned fire, killing young Moreblessing Haruzivi who was shot in the chest and wounding its mother, Dephine Makokola, who took a bullet to the left lower breast.
Police have not said what was taken in the second robbery.
The alleged robbers were confronted by a team from CID Homicide as they fled from the crime scene leading to a shootout. Two of the men, Panganai Machipisa and Gift Nhema are receiving treatment at Marondera Hospital where they are handcuffed to their beds and watched by police officers.
The six alleged robbers have been charged with murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
