Police gun down bike thief after daring escape bid foiled
Other suspect hospitalised for head injuries
By Staff Reporter
A suspect was shot dead while one of his two accomplices is nursing head injuries in hospital after detectives who were investigating the theft of motor cycles from two tobacco companies in Centenary on Monday cornered and fired at the fleeing trio in Harare Tuesday.
Police spokesperson for Harare Province Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the fatal shooting of the suspect who was only identified as Banda in his press statement.
The incident, according to Chakanza, happened near Helensvale shopping centre in Borrowdale, Harare.
The other suspects were identified as Moses Matemba (22), a Chitungwiza resident, and Prince, whose further details were not readily available to the press.
“On 10 November 2025, the three suspects allegedly stole two red motor cycles, a double shock speed bike and a TT Trail, in Centenary, Mt Darwin, which belonged to Global Leaf Tobacco Company and Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco Company, respectively,” Inspector Chakanza said.
The matter was reported to Centenary police.
Inspector Chakanza said unbeknown to the suspects, the two motor cycles were fitted with tracking devices that are managed by Easy Tracking Company.
Assisted by the tracking system, detectives from CID Vehicle Theft Squad, Harare on Tuesday tracked he suspects to find Banda riding one of the stolen motor cycles while the other two suspects were on another.
“The suspects, sensing danger upon the arrival of police, fled in different directions,” said Chakanza.
“Detectives chased them and fired three warning shots into the air, but the suspects did not stop.
“They started shooting at the suspects, leading to Banda being shot on the upper hip.
“Prince also tried to evade the police, but fell down with his face on a hard rock and sustained a large wound on the right cheek and slipped into unconsciousness.”
The two suspects, Prince and Banda were ferried to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare where Banda was pronounced dead.
Prince was hospitalised and is receiving treatment under police guard.
Chakanza said further investigations with Matemba led to the arrest of the intended receiver of the other motor cycle, Kennias Magudzwa (49), who resides in Borrowdale.
The total value of the stolen property is US$2,800.
The suspects, who were taken to CID VTS Southerton for further investigations, will face the music in the courts of law soon.
