Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – What was initially hailed as a significant breakthrough in the audacious US$4 million Ecobank robbery investigation took a dramatic and embarrassing turn yesterday, as a critical police blunder derailed the case in court. The anticipated legal showdown instead became a retreat for authorities, casting serious doubt on the progress of the country’s largest unsolved cash-in-transit heist, ZiMetro News can report.
The situation escalated dramatically when Bulawayo police announced the arrests of Sibonginkosi Sibanda and Thokozani Zulu in connection with the high-profile robbery. However, their subsequent court appearance, which initially garnered considerable public interest, saw a surprising shift: police downgraded the charges from armed robbery to money laundering.
The court proceedings, originally slated for the morning, only commenced late in the afternoon around 4 PM. In a significant development, Thokozani Zulu was cleared of all charges. Meanwhile, Sibanda, an employee of Safeguard Security Company, was formally charged with money laundering and remanded in custody until Monday for a bail ruling.
Both Sibanda and Zulu were represented by Mr. Prince Butshe-Dube of Butshe and Associates. Mr. Butshe-Dube mounted a robust defense, effectively challenging the investigating officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Tawedzerwa Shiriyapenga, during cross-examination. This rigorous questioning significantly weakened the prosecution’s case.
During the proceedings, Mr. Butshe-Dube questioned the very foundation of the charges, highlighting that the pair had initially been arrested for armed robbery. He pressed Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga on why the charges had been altered, despite the initial arrest being based on robbery allegations.
Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga initially denied arresting the suspects for robbery – a claim swiftly undermined when his own affidavit, compiled earlier that same morning, directly contradicted his statement.
“Earlier you said you did not arrest them for robbery. Yet your affidavit shows the accused was picked up for interviews in a robbery case. Were you being economical with the truth?” Mr. Butshe-Dube sharply questioned.
Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga attributed the glaring discrepancy to a “typing error.”
Undeterred, Mr. Butshe-Dube continued his line of questioning, exposing further inconsistencies in Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga’s testimony.
In court, Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga alleged that Sibanda had acquired several properties, some of which were registered under his wife’s and daughter’s names.
Mr. Butshe-Dube countered, “Are you suggesting that a married woman cannot own property? Did you examine the agreements of sale and verify whose name appeared on the documents? Was it not his wife’s? Is there anything that needs to be recovered, as you claim, when everything is properly documented and above board?”
The properties in question reportedly include two houses (one in Cowdray Park and another in Mbundane), two rural homesteads, a Honda Fit, and a Hino truck.
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Despite appearing visibly unsettled during cross-examination, Assistant Inspector Shiriyapenga insisted that Sibanda posed a flight risk and vehemently opposed the granting of bail.
Mr. Butshe-Dube then delivered a scathing assessment of the investigation: “You are not equipped to investigate this case. You are under-trained and have bungled the process. The charges were initially based on armed robbery, and there is no merit in the money laundering allegations. Do you even understand what money laundering entails? Are you aware of the Commercial Crimes Division? They handle such cases — not you. Yet you seek to deprive a man of his liberty.”
He argued that Sibanda was a suitable candidate for bail, citing his clean record and the absence of any concrete evidence linking him to criminal activity.
“This case was rushed, mishandled, and is not fit for prosecution,” he concluded.
The US$4 million heist, which remains the largest in Zimbabwe’s history, continues to be unsolved. It captured national attention and has left authorities scrambling for clues and the apprehension of those responsible for the daring theft. With the spotlight now firmly on this latest twist, serious doubts have emerged over whether a crucial lead in the case has been irreparably compromised.
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