Published: 6 hours ago

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says the extradition of suspects linked to a series of high-profile robberies, including the US$4 million Ecobank heist, is now at an advanced stage.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that Zimbabwean authorities, working with counterparts in South Africa and Botswana, are finalising the process. Botswana became involved after one of the suspects attempted to cross its border from South Africa.

Comm Nyathi said the cross-border legal procedures required careful handling.

"Police don't work in isolation. The process involves legal parameters and must be handled with the utmost care. We must make sure that all channels are followed to the core. We don't want any loopholes in addressing this matter," he said.

He drew comparisons to other recent high-profile extraditions, including that of jailed serial killer Peter Dube, who was returned from Ireland, and the case of John Zvivi (36) and Alista Sibanda (35), who were extradited from South Africa earlier this year for the murder of their four-year-old niece, Princess Shoko, in 2023.

So far, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the Ecobank heist, three of whom are awaiting extradition. Among them are brothers Abraham Tendayi and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu, who were arrested in South Africa in July after nearly 10 months on the run, and Bhekani Mlilo (39), apprehended while attempting to enter Botswana from South Africa.
- The Chronicle

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