The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has revealed the involvement of an inside source in the heist at Ecobank’s Parkade Branch in Bulawayo, a brazen daylight crime that adds a terrifying twist to an already intricate robbery. In this worrying heist that happened on Thursday afternoon, a cash-in-transit security crew had about $4 million worth of merchandise taken from them.
ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi claims that preliminary investigations show the offenders possessed insider knowledge, adding intricacies to a crime that is already raising questions about the planning and execution of such operations.
Authorities quickly focused on the potential of collaboration despite the crime allegedly involving six individuals. The crime was carried out so quickly and efficiently that there is little doubt that there are leaks from the security company or the bank. Although armed robberies are regrettably frequent in Zimbabwe, the scope and accuracy of this operation shocked the public and law authorities.
It calls into question not only the effectiveness of the security system but also the power of well-resourced criminal organisations that have demonstrated little remorse in carrying out risky thefts.
The potential link to one of the most infamous criminal families in Zimbabwe is what makes this case so fascinating. Elijah Vumbunu, a name that has long been associated with criminal activity in the country, is now considered a top suspect. Vumbunu is well-known for his involvement in several bold heists; his name brings to mind the 2022 How Mine convoy robbery, in which about 12 kilogrammes of gold were taken.
Despite the fact that Vumbunu and his brothers were able to escape after that theft, it is more likely that they were involved in the most recent event given their connections to South African criminal organisations.
Reports from inside the investigation have indicated that the getaway vehicle used was a white Ford Ranger. Remarkably, the car’s license plate could be linked to a Mazda Demio. This particular detail implies that the thieves were well-prepared to hide their tracks, indicating a high degree of forethought.
Nowadays, it’s more important to consider how these networks carefully organise their activities and leave as few traces as possible behind rather than just carrying out a heist.
However, in spite of these arrangements, the heist left behind a few intriguing elements. A police officer in a uniform is seen in the footage idly passing the scene of the incident on Fife Street and raising an eyebrow. Police officers in Zimbabwe usually don’t carry guns unless they’re called to a violent scene.
The relatively ordinary act of an officer passing by a theft that was taking place has only served to fuel rumours that law enforcement officers may have been involved, either directly or indirectly, in these high-profile crimes. Even if nothing is official yet, it’s difficult to avoid making comparisons to previous instances in which insiders were ultimately revealed.
The similarities to earlier high-value robberies in Zimbabwe become more apparent as the inquiry progresses. The 2021 heist at the Gwebi River Bridge, which saw the theft of $2.7 million, serves as a sobering reminder of how simple it is for insiders to compromise security.
That instance, which felt uncannily similar to the latest Ecobank heist, involved a bank employee turning revealed to be the mastermind. The intricacy with which these heists were executed highlights the susceptibility of even purportedly safe financial activities within the nation.
Not only does the idea of an inside job produce a story of betrayal, but it also highlights the critical need for stronger operational and regulatory controls in all of Zimbabwe’s financial institutions and security companies.
If substantial quantities of money can vanish during daylight hours, accompanied by purportedly top-tier security personnel, the public’s trust in these establishments would undoubtedly diminish much more. The ramifications of such failures go beyond the immediate loss of millions—it points to a bigger problem of how safe any financial transaction actually is in today’s Zimbabwe.
The public is urged to submit any suspicious information as the ZRP attempts to piece together the details of this theft. As Commissioner Nyathi underlined, there is hope that the law would “take course without fear or favour.”
It remains to be seen if that happens, but one thing is certain: this is a crucial test of Zimbabwe’s ability to deal with increasingly violent and well-organised criminal elements; it is more than just a heist.
The public watches with bated breath as detectives zero in on potential suspects in the hopes of making an arrest that will help break through a criminal network that transcends international boundaries. Meanwhile, Elijah Vumbunu, the man who haunts Zimbabwean authorities, is still at large and his influence continues to cast a long shadow over this case and others similar to it.
More: The Zim Bulletin