Ecobank Heist Suspect Freed After 10 Months in Custody

Bhekani Mlilo has been released from remand after spending 10 months in custody without a trial date in the Ecobank Bulawayo robbery case.

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Bulawayo

A suspect in the multimillion-dollar Ecobank Bulawayo robbery has been released from remand after spending 10 months in custody without a trial date being set. Bhekani Mlilo, who was extradited from Botswana last year, was removed from remand on Friday after Bulawayo regional magistrate Lungile Ncube dismissed a State application seeking to keep him in custody.

The State, represented by Rumbi Gwishiri, had applied for Mlilo’s further remand to September 28, but the application was rejected. Mlilo is facing an armed robbery charge arising from the October 2025 raid on Ecobank branches in Bulawayo.

“The accused has been in remand prison for 10 months with no trial date being allocated,” Ncube said. “The accused cannot continue being on remand for the failed extradition of the other suspects. Further remand is refused.”

The magistrate directed that the State proceed by summons once the remaining suspects have been extradited.

“When other suspects have been extradited, the State will proceed by way of summons for commencement of a trial,” Ncube said.

Mlilo was represented by Tawanda Tavengwa of Mvundla Tavengwa Solicitors.

According to the State, Mlilo allegedly acted with several accomplices on October 3, 2025, including brothers Elijah and Abraham Vumbunu, Simon Xola Ngcobo, Menzeli Mpofu, Khalid Ntimen and others who remain at large. The State alleges that the Vumbunu brothers have since been arrested in South Africa and are awaiting extradition to Zimbabwe.

Prosecutors told the court that the suspects allegedly used a white Ford Ranger with South African registration plates, which they replaced with Zimbabwean plates before driving to Ecobank at the corner of 9th Avenue and Fife Street.

The gang allegedly intercepted a Safeguard cash-in-transit vehicle outside the bank.

“They apprehended the guards and held them hostage, threatening to shoot them if they resisted,” Gwishiri told the court.

The suspects allegedly took four metal cash boxes and three firearms from the security guards.

Three of the boxes allegedly came from Ecobank’s 9th Avenue and Fife Street branch and contained US$3,983,500. The State further alleges that another cash box containing US$465,500 was taken from Ecobank’s Bradfield branch. The suspects allegedly loaded the money into the getaway vehicle before fleeing. The combined amount allegedly stolen from the two Ecobank branches was more than US$4.4 million.

Mlilo is also facing a separate criminal case involving an alleged break-in at a Nedbank branch in Bulawayo. In that matter, he is accused of masterminding the theft of nearly US$300,000, more than R2.4 million, and five gold coins. The Nedbank trial has already begun, with two State witnesses having testified. Proceedings have since stalled after a key witness was not served with a subpoena to appear in court. Mlilo has not been convicted in either case and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Ecobank Bulawayo heist