End of the road for armed robbers who stole US$4.4 million in Bulawayo Ecobank cash-in-transit heist and fled the country

Bulawayo – The pursuit of the Vumbunu brothers, prime suspects in the audacious US$4.4 million Ecobank cash-in-transit heist, has reached a critical juncture. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are intensifying extradition processes in a regional effort that has gripped the nation and tested the limits of cross-border policing.

The Ecobank heist, which occurred on October 3rd last year, shocked the nation. Armed suspects intercepted a cash-in-transit vehicle in Bulawayo, seizing several trunks containing a staggering US$4.4 million. Witnesses described a scene of movie-style precision, with six armed robbers overpowering Safeguard security personnel transporting the cash before speeding off along 9th Avenue in a well-coordinated getaway.

Police believe the brothers leveraged insider information, intricate planning, and swift cross-border mobility to execute the robbery, an operation they say displayed an unusual level of sophistication. The Vumbunu brothers, Abraham Temayi and Elijah Temayi, fled soon after the 2023 heist, triggering an international manhunt across Southern Africa.

In a significant breakthrough, one of the suspects, Bhekani Mlilo (40), has been successfully extradited from Botswana and has already appeared in court. Mlilo was charged with armed robbery when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Archie Wochiwunga last week. He was not asked to enter a plea but confirmed the allegations against him. Mlilo was represented by his lawyer, Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mutuso Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys and was remanded in custody until December 5.

Mlilo’s lawyer, Mr Tawanda Tavengwa, told the court: “The matter happened last year on 3 October and that is a long period of time. We are ready for commencement of trial and we hope the State will be ready to start the trial next month on 5 December.”

Prosecutor Ms Concilia Ncube provided details of the heist, explaining that on 3 October last year at around 3.30PM, Mlilo, alongside his accomplices, including the notorious Vumbunu brothers, Elijah Temayi and Abraham, as well as Simon Xola Ngcobo, Menzeli Mpofu, Khalid Ntimen, and others still at large, planned to rob Ecobank’s Bulawayo branch.

Ms Ncube said Mlilo and his accomplices were armed with guns. Upon arrival at the bank, they blocked a Safeguard cash-in-transit vehicle and allegedly threatened the security guards with the firearms.

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“They apprehended the guards and held them hostage, threatening to shoot them if they resisted. The accused persons took four metal boxes containing cash. Three of the boxes were from the Ecobank branch at 9th Avenue and Fife Street, containing US$3 983 500. They also took three guns from Safeguard security guards,” she said.

“An additional box was stolen from the Ecobank Bradfield branch containing US$465 500. The accused loaded the boxes into their getaway vehicle and fled the scene.”

His return marks the first major step in a co-ordinated regional crackdown, following months of intelligence sharing and co-operation between Zimbabwean police, local prosecutors, and law-enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries.

National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said Mlilo’s arrest has bolstered ongoing efforts to bring the remaining suspects, the Vumbunu brothers, back to Zimbabwe to face charges.

Comm Nyathi confirmed that they are now working closely with South African officials in what has become a high-stakes, meticulously co-ordinated extradition operation.

“The remaining suspects are in South Africa, where legal and procedural engagements are underway to facilitate their transfer. The regional co-operation has been exceptional. This is a complex case that spans multiple jurisdictions, but progress is solid. The successful extradition from Botswana is a clear indication that no suspect will escape accountability,” said Comm Nyathi.

The Vumbunus were dramatically arrested in July this year, bringing a major twist to one of Zimbabwe’s biggest bank robberies in recent years.

More charges are expected as evidence from South Africa and other jurisdictions is incorporated into the case.

Comm Nyathi said the unfolding drama has highlighted the evolving nature of transnational crime and the increasing necessity of regional law-enforcement collaboration.

“Police assure the public that the extradition processes, although often lengthy due to legal formalities, are progressing with purpose and determination,” he said.

Hailing from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo, the Vumbunu brothers were born into a complex family setup, which is a religious and polygamous household.

Despite their shared surname and sibling bond, they are technically half-brothers, born to sisters married to the same man.

Their bond, however, has always been tight. They were raised together and are regarded as twins within their family and community.

Police say their descent into crime began in the mid-1990s, with at least four members of their family allegedly involved in various illicit activities ranging from petty theft and drug peddling to car jackings and armed robbery. Over the years, Abraham and Elijah rose to notoriety for being ruthless, cunning, and able to evade law enforcement.

Police sources say the Vumbunu brothers’ involvement in organised crime is not a new phenomenon.

“Their brazen tactics and ability to evade capture have made them a thorn in our side, but we are determined to bring them to justice,” said a police source.

According to reports, Abraham had just been released from serving a 14-year prison sentence when he allegedly re-joined his brother and their network to plan the high-stakes Ecobank robbery, barely two weeks after his release.

Ms Ncube said: “The Vumbunu brothers have since been arrested in South Africa and are expected to be extradited to Zimbabwe to kick-start their trial. They drove a white Ford Ranger affixed with a South African registration number plate.

“The vehicle was registered in the name of Nomsa Aneline Zingela. When they were going to rob the bank, they changed the South African number plate and attached a Zimbabwean number plate, then drove to Ecobank situated at the corner of 9th Avenue and Fife Street in Bulawayo,” she said.

The Vumbunu brothers are also suspected to be connected to several other high-profile crimes, including the Mukuru money heist, the How Mine gold robbery, which ended in a dramatic shootout and a series of car jackings and home invasions in Bulawayo and beyond.

Their involvement in these cases, according to police, points to an intricate web of organised crime that has operated across borders and eluded justice for years.