Two cop murder suspects gunned down by detectives in Bulawayo, 3 more arrested
By Staff Reporter
Two men linked to the callous killing of police sergeant Abel Masaya in Bulawayo last Friday have been shot dead while three of their colleagues were arrested after the gang was cornered by detectives in the country’s second largest city on Sunday.
The gang has also been linked to a spate of armed robbery cases targeting fuel stations, liquor outlets, supermarkets, funeral parlous and gas operators in the country’s second largest city since April last year.
In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Sipho Ncube (24) and Dumisani Ndlovu (32) died in a shootout with detectives as they tried to resist arrest in Bulawayo’s Saucetown suburb.
Their colleagues, Mandlenkosi Albert Munangati (26), Clifford Desmond Nare (33) and Thabo Dube (24) are detained following a tip-off by the public.
Sergeant Masava (43) was shot dead in Sizinda, Bulawayo just after midnight on Friday after he had teamed up with colleagues to attend a domestic violence call in the high density suburb.
The police officer, who was in uniform, had confronted the five suspects he had come across while waiting in the car outside the house where colleagues had gone in to resolve the quarrel between a couple.
Nyathi said detectives on Sunday cornered the gang after receiving information which linked a Honda Fit vehicle, registration number AGG 8380 to the cop’s murder case and a spate of armed robbery cases which occured in the city between 22 April 2024 and 28 March this year.
“The detectives tracked the vehicle leading to the arrest of Mandlenkosi Albert Munangati.
“The suspect implicated the other suspects leading to their arrest and recovery of five firearms, National Browning pistol, Blow F92 Blank pellet gun, Long Rifle 12GA 76/3 inch long, Vizor Pistol, shot gun and a sword.
“Two other suspects, Sipho Ncube, 24, and Dumisani Ndlovu, 32, tried to escape resulting in a shoot out with detectives along Harrow Street, Saucetown, Bulawayo. The two suspects died upon admission at United Bulawayo Hospitals,” Nyathi said.
Police have linked the suspects to 25 cases of armed robbery which include the robbery of a supermarket in New Luveve on 28 December last year in which cash and three cell phones were seized.
The suspects are also being linked to the robbery of a funeral parlour in Kelvin North, Bulawayo on 10 February 2025 when US$3,608 and ZAR21,130 cash and a cell phone were snatched.
The gang is also suspected to have been behind the robbery of a service station at corner Nketa drive and Rangemore Road on 2 March 2025 during which a shot gun and a cell phone were stolen.
