POLICE on Wednesday shot dead a man during a second-hand clothing bales anti-smuggling operation.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Admire Tawanda Sibanda (40).
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Phillimon Matiyashe (32), Tawanda Chafanza (33), and Owen Wenjere (29) for smuggling second hand clothes and the death of Admire Tawanda Sibanda (40) during a shootout incident with police officers in Mutare on October 16, 2024 at around 0530 hours,” Nyathi said.
He said a police crack team on an anti-smuggling operation intercepted a MAN rigid truck, registration number AFG 7429 along Vumba Road, after Prince of Wales turn off in Mutare.
“The truck was loaded with smuggled second-hand clothes and was being escorted by two vehicles, an unregistered silver Toyota RunX and a silver Toyota Mark X, registration number, AFY 1037 driven by the Admire Tawanda Sibanda,” Nyathi said.
“The team flagged down the truck, but the driver sped off. Another Toyota RunX vehicle, registration number AFH 8368, blocked the way and subsequently, Admire Tawanda Sibanda pulled out a pistol and fired towards the police, resulting in a shootout.”
He said Sibanda was shot on the neck and succumbed to the injuries on the way to the hospital, adding that a police Mahindra vehicle was shot twice in the front left fender.
Matiyashe, Chafanza and Wenjere were later arrested by the police after a high-speed chase.
“The arrest led to the recovery of 104 bales of second-hand shoes and 138 bales of second hand clothes which were in the truck.”
Nyathi warned smuggling “syndicates” against engaging in violent confrontations with police officers saying “such actions will be met with appropriate response for the law to take its course”.