POLICE have arrested more than 40 000 people in the traffic blitz launched about two weeks ago across Zimbabwe.
In a statement yesterday, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said 40 727 arrests had been made during the on-going Operation Tame the Traffic Jungle.
He said 1 162 arrests were made on vehicles without route permits, while 13 886 arrests had been made on illegal pirate taxis (mushikashika).
Nyathi also said 336 motorists were arrested for reckless driving, while 2 781 people were arrested for touting. He added that 1 003 vehicles were impounded for moving on the roads without registration plates.
Meanwhile, police in Lupane are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Clever Ngwenya (35) who is wanted for killing his parents, Mildress (71) and Simon (73) for an unknown reason.
Nyathi said Ngwenya killed his parents at a family gathering in Gwalubha village, Mabhikwa on Friday last week.
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“The suspect stabbed his mother, Mildress Ngwenya with a knife on the throat before stabbing his father, Simon Ngwenya on the throat with the same knife. The suspect went on to chase his two brothers with the intention of stabbing them with the knife, but was outpaced,” he said.
Nyathi also revealed that police in Harare were appealing for information which may assist to identify a male adult who was found dead with a swollen head, bruises all over the body and two sharp cuts on palms, at a house under construction in Overspill, Epworth yesterday.
He also said a woman was found dead with bruises on the right leg and left hand in a bushy area at Lily Farm, Patchway, Kadoma.
“In Mazowe, police are investigating a case of murder in which three unknown suspects stabbed Marbel Maguramhinga (39) on the thigh with a knife before stealing US$350 at a gold panning site at Folye Farm.
“The victim died on the way to the hospital. The victim and her husband were operating a vending stall and canteen at the farm,” he said.
Nyathi said in Masvingo, police are investigating a case of murder which occurred in Dhombani village, Chivi, in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
An unknown suspect gained entry into a room in which the victim, Vongai Muzvondiwa (35) and a female juvenile (15), were sleeping in before demanding valuables.
The suspect stabbed the victim with an unidentified sharp object on the armpit and eye after the victim had refused to hand over a cellphone to the suspect. The victim died on the spot.
Nyathi also said police in Juru are investigating a case of baby dumping in which a baby boy (approximately one month old) was found near Juru business centre in Goromonzi on Friday last week.
He also said the police were investigating another baby dumping case in which a new-born baby girl was found in a sink in the toilet at a polyclinic in Waterfalls, Harare, yesterday.
In Gweru, police have arrested Shalom Kuzeyamisa (29) in connection with a case of infanticide.
The suspect allegedly gave birth to a baby boy before dumping it in a toilet pit in Kuzeyamisa village in Shurugwi on Saturday.
The baby was retrieved alive from the toilet pit and was referred to Shurugwi District Hospital where he died upon admission.
“Police in Harare are investigating a case of murder which occurred at a school in Kuwadzana 8 on September 21, 2023. Three unknown suspects attacked two security guards who were on duty at the school before blowing a safe with unknown explosives.
“The safe was in the bursar’s office. The suspects stole US$3 551 and ZWL$68 000 cash as well as two swipe machines,” he added.
In Harare, police are investigating a case of robbery which occurred on Saturday at a secondary school in Budiriro 1.
Three unknown suspects armed with a pistol attacked four security guards who were on duty at the school before gaining entry into the bursar’s office, where they broke a safe and stole US$1 600.
According to the statement, police are also investigating four armed robbery cases which occurred on Thursday last week in Bindura, Glendale and Mazowe in which six people lost their valuables to three suspects travelling in a black BMW vehicle.
“The suspects, who were armed with a pistol and knife, offered the complainants a lift before attacking them and stealing cash, cellphones and laptops, among other valuables along the way,” said the police statement.