ZRP Under Fire After Downgrading US$700K Bank Robbery Charges To Attempted Heist
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has sparked a storm of confusion and anger after announcing that a Mt Darwin bank robbery involving US$700,000 and 2.4 kilogrammes of gold has now been downgraded to an attempted robbery—because the stolen items were recovered.
In a post made on 27 June 2025, the ZRP said:
“Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s post on its official X handle, dated 26th June 2025, regarding a reported bank robbery incident in Mt Darwin, in which USD 700,000 in cash and 2.4 kilogrammes of gold were allegedly stolen.
Following further investigations, the case is now being treated as an attempted robbery, as all the cash and gold have since been recovered. More details will be released in due course.”
First Statement Confirmed Robbery Took Place
On 26 June 2025, the ZRP had initially described the event as a confirmed robbery at a bank in Mt Darwin CBD, involving three armed suspects. In their words:
“The ZRP is investigating a robbery case which occurred at a bank in Mt Darwin CBD on 26/06/25 at around 0200 hours. Three unknown suspects, armed with pistols, pounced on the bank, attacked the security guard who was on duty at the premises, and then broke into the bank.
They blasted open a safe and stole approximately USD700,000 and 2.4 kilogrammes of gold.”
That first post left no room for ambiguity—the crime was defined, the value of the loot stated, and the modus operandi detailed.
However, the second post seemed to reverse the police’s own conclusion by classifying the event as “attempted robbery”, sparking confusion and anger across Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans Left Stunned, Angry And Confused
The reaction on social media was immediate and fierce. Zimbabweans took to X to express disbelief, accuse the authorities of playing with words, and question the motives behind the sudden downgrade.
Commentator Tich Ray fumed:
“RECOVERED? So it ceases to be an actual ROBBERY & gets downgraded to a mere ATTEMPT? You are out of your f***ing minds.”
User Mbishi asked a pointed question:
“How does it become an attempted robbery when in fact you reported that the gold and cash was stolen? Do you know what ‘attempted’ implies or means?”
Popular media personality Robert Mukondiwa joined in the outrage:
“If something is stolen and RECOVERED the charge is STILL robbery! Kanti licabanga njani lina madoda?”
(Translation: What exactly are you thinking, gentlemen?)
Others were left baffled by the implications. A user going by BaMuku WekwaBushu wrote:
“Saka imi muri kuti mbavha ikandibira, ikabatwa, ndikawana zvaanga aba pekutanga, moti hatichamusungira mhosva yekuba nekuti abatwa?”
(So you’re saying if a thief robs me, gets caught, and I recover what was stolen, he shouldn’t be charged with theft?)
One user added sarcastically:
“Recovered from who?”
ZRP Urged To Clarify Position
Legal experts and commentators now want ZRP to clarify the logic behind downgrading a robbery that was initially publicly confirmed.
Speaking anonymously, a legal professional commented:
“Whether or not stolen goods are recovered has never been a determining factor in whether robbery occurred. If violence or threat of violence was used to steal something, and it was taken, that’s robbery under Zimbabwean law. Recovery is a secondary issue.”
The ZRP has not explained how the suspects were tracked down, whether arrests were made, or how the cash and gold were recovered.
The situation has reignited public debate on police transparency and terminology. Many believe the language used in official communication lacks clarity and invites unnecessary speculation.
Zimbabweans are calling for full transparency, including the identities of suspects, circumstances of the recovery, and legal charges being pursued.
At the time of publishing, no further information had been released by the ZRP, and the public remains in the dark about one of Zimbabwe’s most baffling robbery cases in recent years.
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The post ZRP Sparks Outrage and Confusion After Downgrading Charges to ATTEMPTED Robbery After Recovering US$700K appeared first on iHarare News.
