Girlfriend of Suspected Armed Robber Arrested, Tied to Multiple Heists

Our reporter

Authorities have arrested Monica Muguti, the girlfriend of suspected armed robber Tawanda Manokore, after stolen items linked to high-profile robberies were discovered at her residence in Unit M, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.

Police say Muguti, who had been receiving stolen property as “gifts” from Manokore, has now been implicated in two violent robberies that have shocked local communities.

Officers conducted a search of her home after receiving a tip-off, during which Muguti reportedly led them to her wardrobe. Among the recovered items were expensive watches, jewelry, and a gold medal believed to have been stolen during two recent farm robberies in Christon Bank and Goromonzi.

The first incident occurred on October 26 at a home on Christon Road, Christon Bank. Posing as police officers, a gang of armed robbers overpowered the gardener and handcuffed him before invading the main house.

Using machetes and knives, they restrained the residents and made off with valuables, including US$760, jewelry, and a Walther pistol. The gang fled in the victims’ Toyota Rav 4, which was later found abandoned in Mazowe, along with some of the stolen items.

The second robbery, on November 3, targeted a farm in Goromonzi. The suspects reportedly gained access through an open kitchen door. Armed with pistols and machetes, they tied up the occupants using laptop cables and looted US$3,000, iPhones, clothing, groceries, and firearms. CCTV footage of the heist was widely circulated online, helping authorities identify some of the suspects.

Muguti’s boyfriend, Manokore, was captured on CCTV during the Goromonzi farm robbery, and investigators have been piecing together the gang’s movements. Earlier arrests included Tafadzwa Chakuteka, who was apprehended at Inkomo Barracks.

Police recovered the Walther pistol and ammunition stolen during the Christon Bank robbery at Chakuteka’s residence. Another suspect, Sarezi Shonhiwa, had implicated Chakuteka before his arrest.

Muguti’s arrest is expected to provide more leads in the case as investigators work to dismantle the gang responsible for these violent crimes. “The recovery of these stolen items marks significant progress, but efforts to apprehend all remaining suspects are ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.

Authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious activity or information that could assist in the investigation.