The police arrested a prison guard for giving a gun to Luke Zinyengere, who escaped from the Harare Magistrates Court on March 21. Donald Madzinga faces charges for helping Zinyengere break free. Madzinga allegedly supplied the revolver that Zinyengere used during his escape. The guard will appear in court on Monday to answer these serious accusations.
Zinyengere, age 29, ran away when he was about to receive his sentence for the armed robbery at Quest Financial Services. This robbery happened on February 25, 2024, when thieves stole more than $700,000 in cash. The escape turned violent when Zinyengere fired his gun at prison guards before stealing a car. The scene looked like something straight from Hollywood.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi from the police department asked the public for any information to help catch Zinyengere. He confirmed they're investigating both the escape and the theft of a Mazda Demio car at the courthouse. Nyathi promised thorough investigations to figure out exactly what happened during this incident. The authorities want to know all the details.
Zinyengere made his move as officers led him and other prisoners to a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services van after court. He pulled out the smuggled gun, threatened a guard, and stole a Mazda Demio to make his getaway. Unlike Zinyengere, his partner Tafadzwa Marondera failed to escape. Guards caught Marondera right after he jumped over the fence at the courts.
Sources say Marondera told officials information that led to Madzinga's arrest. Both Zinyengere and Marondera were part of a larger group arrested for the Quest Financial Services heist. Police arrested at least six suspects, including Brighton Chikukwa (28), Silence Matambo (29), Washington Mangwanda (23), Liberty Mukanganise (31), Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (25), and Luke Zinyengere (28).
The robbers took $720,676 US dollars, 10,500 South African Rand, 120 Euros, a pistol, and three laptops. After police caught them, Marondera and Zinyengere helped officers find $50,600 in cash. Marondera received $35,000 as his share from the robbery, and Zinyengere received $25,000.
Police also found a Mark X car with license plate AFR 7059 that Zinyengere bought for $11,000. He also purchased an iPhone 14 Pro Max for $1,300 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max for $1,500, all with money from the robbery. Two security guards who worked at Quest Financial Services during the robbery already serve 48-month jail sentences each.
These guards picked up money that fell as the robbers escaped and kept it instead of giving it to the police. Last June, Zinyengere and Marondera faced new charges for another crime. They allegedly robbed Tinashe Kelvin Leon Chikove, who sells second-hand phones at Ximex Mall in Harare. They stole various iPhone models from him at gunpoint.
Zinyengere, age 29, ran away when he was about to receive his sentence for the armed robbery at Quest Financial Services. This robbery happened on February 25, 2024, when thieves stole more than $700,000 in cash. The escape turned violent when Zinyengere fired his gun at prison guards before stealing a car. The scene looked like something straight from Hollywood.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi from the police department asked the public for any information to help catch Zinyengere. He confirmed they're investigating both the escape and the theft of a Mazda Demio car at the courthouse. Nyathi promised thorough investigations to figure out exactly what happened during this incident. The authorities want to know all the details.
Zinyengere made his move as officers led him and other prisoners to a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services van after court. He pulled out the smuggled gun, threatened a guard, and stole a Mazda Demio to make his getaway. Unlike Zinyengere, his partner Tafadzwa Marondera failed to escape. Guards caught Marondera right after he jumped over the fence at the courts.
Sources say Marondera told officials information that led to Madzinga's arrest. Both Zinyengere and Marondera were part of a larger group arrested for the Quest Financial Services heist. Police arrested at least six suspects, including Brighton Chikukwa (28), Silence Matambo (29), Washington Mangwanda (23), Liberty Mukanganise (31), Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (25), and Luke Zinyengere (28).
The robbers took $720,676 US dollars, 10,500 South African Rand, 120 Euros, a pistol, and three laptops. After police caught them, Marondera and Zinyengere helped officers find $50,600 in cash. Marondera received $35,000 as his share from the robbery, and Zinyengere received $25,000.
Police also found a Mark X car with license plate AFR 7059 that Zinyengere bought for $11,000. He also purchased an iPhone 14 Pro Max for $1,300 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max for $1,500, all with money from the robbery. Two security guards who worked at Quest Financial Services during the robbery already serve 48-month jail sentences each.
These guards picked up money that fell as the robbers escaped and kept it instead of giving it to the police. Last June, Zinyengere and Marondera faced new charges for another crime. They allegedly robbed Tinashe Kelvin Leon Chikove, who sells second-hand phones at Ximex Mall in Harare. They stole various iPhone models from him at gunpoint.
