Village Head Robbed of US$2,050 in Buhera Night Raid

Police arrested three suspects after a village head and his wife were robbed of US$2,050 during a home invasion in Buhera.

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BUHERA

A 71-year-old village head in Buhera, Manicaland Province, and his wife were robbed of US$2,050 after four armed suspects allegedly broke into their home during the night, threatened the elderly couple and locked them inside their bedroom before fleeing. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has since arrested three suspects, while a fourth remains on the run.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to reject criminal activities.

"We continue to urge members of the public to shun crime and earn an honest living. Police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that perpetrators of criminal offences are arrested and brought before the courts," Chinyoka said.

According to police, the robbery occurred at around 12:30 am on July 12, 2026, at Bhadharai Village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera.

The victims, village head Timothy Mabviregudo (71) and his wife Alice Masungo (66), had retired to bed at about 8:30 pm when four men allegedly forced their way into the house.

Police said the suspects threatened the couple and ordered them to remain silent. One of the intruders allegedly instructed Mabviregudo to stay lying on the bed while another restrained Masungo by holding her hands as the gang searched the bedroom for cash.

The suspects first recovered US$50 hidden beneath a mattress before demanding more money, claiming they knew Masungo had recently sold groundnuts and was keeping cash at the homestead. They allegedly searched beneath a pillow and found a satchel containing US$2,000, bringing the total stolen to US$2,050. Before fleeing, the suspects reportedly locked the elderly couple inside their bedroom from the outside.

The victims were rescued around 5 am after villagers responded to the incident and traced footprints leading towards Wadzenenga Business Centre. Community members later received information that four men matching the suspects' descriptions had boarded a Phil and Phats bus travelling to Harare. The robbery was reported to ZRP Murambinda, which alerted officers at the Beatrice Roadblock.

Police intercepted the bus and arrested Tatenda Tokotore (32) of Bhadharai Village, Crispen Zhemu (26) of Gororo Village and Kassim Jali (23) of Epworth, Harare. Investigators said Tokotore is the son of Mabviregudo's younger brother. A fourth suspect allegedly disembarked earlier in Murambinda and remains at large. Police recovered US$1,013 from the arrested suspects during investigations. Officers also recovered a blue Buffalo bicycle, which the suspects allegedly admitted stealing from the homestead of Blessing Makanje.

Investigations are continuing as police intensify efforts to locate the outstanding suspect and recover the remaining stolen money. The latest robbery adds to growing concerns over violent crimes targeting rural households, where victims often keep cash at home after agricultural sales due to limited access to banking facilities.

Buhera robbery