A man accused of participating in a US$2.7 million armed robbery of a ZB Bank cash-in-transit vehicle was arrested after his own brother informed police of his whereabouts — allegedly furious after squandering his share of the stolen money.
Zimbabwe's cash-in-transit sector has faced repeated security breaches over the past decade, with armed gangs often relying on insider information to time and execute robberies. The 2021 ZB Bank heist — one of the largest of its kind in recent memory — remained unsolved for nearly five years before a family dispute reportedly cracked the case open.
Suspect Returned From South Africa Before Arrest
Alfred Shumba (32) appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Jessie Kufa on 17 March 2026, facing a charge of armed robbery. He was arrested on 14 March after allegedly returning from South Africa, where prosecutors say he had been living since the robbery took place.
State prosecutors are opposing bail, arguing Shumba presents a significant flight risk given his years abroad and the severity of the charge.
"The accused person is likely to abscond as he has been on the run since 2021. He was hibernating in South Africa… He has no house and is a tenant… there is likelihood that he might change his address to evade justice." Investigating Officer
The State further argued that the seriousness of the charge itself — which carries a lengthy custodial sentence — gives Shumba additional incentive to flee.
How the 2021 Robbery Unfolded
According to court documents, the gang carried out the robbery on 6 January 2021. [INTERNAL LINK: ZB Bank robbery coverage 2021]
An alleged insider crew member fed real-time location updates to accomplices as the cash vehicle travelled a route servicing multiple ZB Bank branches — including those in Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Gwanda, and Zvishavane.
Armed gang members reportedly boarded the vehicle posing as passengers before producing firearms near the 60-kilometre peg on the route. A red Toyota twin cab then arrived carrying additional accomplices, who disarmed the security crew and drove the consignment to a secluded area near Nyabira, north of Harare, where the boxes were broken open and the cash divided.
The total amount stolen was US$2,775,000 and ZW$43,090 (Zimbabwe dollars). Police say US$716,726 has since been recovered. [INTERNAL LINK: cash-in-transit security Zimbabwe]
A Brother's Tip-Off — and the Money That Was Gone
The circumstances of Shumba's arrest illustrate the volatile nature of criminal alliances. The State alleges that after returning to Zimbabwe, Shumba confronted his brother over money that had been given to him to hold — only to discover it had been spent. The brother then contacted police.
Shumba has already been implicated by accomplices arrested in earlier stages of the investigation. Around 15 witnesses are expected to testify, and the State says investigations should be completed within four weeks.
The case is a reminder that in Zimbabwe's underworld, the greatest threat to a criminal enterprise is often not the police — but the people inside it.
Additional reporting sourced from NewZimbabwe. The Granite Post has independently verified key details.
