Five Armed robbers have implicated and name-dropped top government officials and police officers as their bosses during trial.
A gang of five armed robbers, allegedly posing as military intelligence and police officers, have been accused of using the names of prominent figures, including members of the First Family, to extort money from mining companies in the Matabeleland region.
Three suspects, identified as Munyaradzi Charakupa, Victor Jaja, and Tawanda Mangi, were brought before Bulawayo magistrate Evelyn Madzikatire on charges of impersonating public officials, attempted extortion, and extortion. The trio, who are being represented by lawyer Bryan Sengweni, have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Investigating officer Superintendent Edmore Runganga argued that the suspects posed a flight risk, particularly because some of their alleged accomplices have yet to be apprehended. He further expressed concerns that the suspects, if granted bail, could potentially interfere with witnesses, as the case appears to involve individuals within law enforcement and government circles.
Robbers claim Sean Mnangagwa is their boss to get money from Bulawayo lawyer.
The suspects were reportedly exposed after they attempted to extort money from mines connected to prominent Bulawayo lawyer Dumisani Dube. The gang allegedly sought to challenge Dube’s corporate rescue certificate, resorting to extortion when their efforts were rebuffed.
According to Runganga, the suspects targeted mining firms in which Dube had interests, leading him to seek assistance from Sean Mnangagwa, son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the Attorney-General’s Office. Dube reported the gang after Sean Mnangagwa disavowed any association with the group.
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How the robbers committed Extortion by posing as workers for government officials
In February 2024, Jaja allegedly visited Dube’s office, introducing himself as a former Officer-in-Charge of Beitbridge police, now working with the President’s Office as part of the Police Protection Unit. He claimed to be part of Sean Mnangagwa’s security team, with Mangi purportedly serving as his superior within the Office of the President.
The suspects, accompanied by Charakupa and another accomplice, Pemba, who claimed to be military intelligence officers, allegedly presented Dube with a file containing special grant applications for the Matabeleland South province. The file included applications from three of Dube’s mining clients. The gang reportedly demanded a “protection fee” of US$300,000, claiming that the mining claims would be cancelled if the payment was not made to Sean Mnangagwa, their supposed boss.
Dube refused to comply with the demands, leading to escalating threats and further extortion attempts.
Escalation of Threats
On April 24, 2024, the Master of the High Court appointed Dube as the corporate rescue practitioner of Fools Investment (Pvt) Ltd. The suspects then claimed to be company directors and demanded US$200,000 each from Dube. Jaja allegedly presented an official identification card from the Office of the President to support his claims.
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In a subsequent incident, the gang attempted to extort US$800,000 from one of Dube’s clients. On July 23, 2024, the suspects allegedly threatened to kill Dube if he did not meet their demands, compelling him to hand over US$40,000 to Mangi.
In another instance, the suspects allegedly coerced Dube into covering their accommodation costs for three months, during which they claimed to be on a “special operation.” Under duress, Dube reportedly paid them US$4,000 and an additional US$1,800 in the presence of Pemba and Daka.
In total, the suspects are accused of extorting US$55,300 from Dube on several occasions. Following these events, Dube filed a report with the police, leading to the arrest of the three suspects.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to apprehend the remaining accomplices involved in the extortion scheme.
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