Police in Mashonaland East Province have launched a manhunt for two armed robbers who last week raided the Energy Park Service Station in Macheke, stealing US$12,000 in cash and several cellphones.
The suspects reportedly used a Toyota Aqua, which belonged to one of the station’s employees who was collecting money from Murambinda, Nyazura, and Macheke service stations for banking, as their getaway car. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Marondera.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident. He said:
“On January 21, 2026, at around 6 am, Tafadzwa Asado, who is employed by Energy Park, collected US$5 946 from Energy Park Murambinda service station.
“He wrapped it in a sheet of paper, put it in a bag and placed it in the boot of a Toyota Aqua vehicle that he was using to take the money for banking in Harare.
“At 7 am on the same day, he proceeded to Energy Park Nyazura service station, where he collected US$2 775 wrapped in a sheet of paper, which he put into the same bag and put it in the boot of the same Toyota Aqua.
“He then drove to Energy Park Macheke, where he intended to collect money en route to Harare for banking.”
Comm Nyathi said the armed men struck as soon as Asado entered the Macheke offices to collect the money. He said:
“It is reported that when Asado arrived at Energy Park Macheke service station at around 10 am, he parked outside the site offices and went inside the service station office, where Costa Mambara and Godfrey Pfute were preparing to hand over the money US$3097 to him, which they had placed on the table.
“As soon as Asado entered the office, an unknown man who was armed with an unknown pistol entered the office and instructed the trio lie on the ground, and they complied.
“The suspect took US$3 097, which was on the table in the office. He then ordered the trio to surrender their cellphones and the cash, and some cash amounting to US$64 from one of the employees. He further demanded the office and car keys, and Asado gave him.”
Comm Nyathi said another armed man confronted a fuel attendant who was serving a customer, causing the terrified customer to flee. He said:
“While the suspect was in the office with the trio, the second armed man attacked another employee who was serving a client outside and pointed an unknown type of pistol at her.
“The client left the jerry cane and ran away. The suspect demanded money from the fuel attendant, and she gave US$120.
“The second suspect then force-marched her to the office where the trio was, and he ordered her to lie down.
“The two unknown armed persons took the office key and tried to lock the office door, but failed.”
Comm Nyathi said the armed men then got into Asado’s Toyota Aqua and drove off along the Mutare–Harare Road, heading towards Harare. He added:
“After about 3 minutes, a Macheke resident arrived at the service station riding a motorcycle, intending to buy fuel, but she failed to locate the fuel attendants.
“She proceeded to the offices and knocked on the doors, asking for assistance, and the attendants came out and told her they had been robbed.
“Asado then proceeded to the Macheke Police Station, where he made a report.
“Police officers from Macheke alerted officers in Marondera, who started patrolling along the Harare-Mutare Road and found the Toyota Aqua dumped in Marondera.
“However, the suspects had disappeared; investigations are in progress.”
On 23 January, the ZRP issued a brief statement warning companies and individuals against sharing details of cash movements on WhatsApp groups or other social media platforms.
The statement provided some information on the Energy Park Service Station robbery, noting that four cellphones were stolen and the Toyota Aqua (Reg No. AFP 4750) was later found abandoned at the 74 km peg along the Harare–Mutare Road in Marondera.
It also revealed that one of the service station managers had posted details of cash collected from service stations in Murambinda, Nyazura, and Macheke while travelling to Harare for banking.
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