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The man, identified as Mthelisi Sibanda (32), is believed to have been part of the armed gang that stormed Bulawayo’s Cape to Cairo Restaurant in September where they fatally shot a senior detective, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chatikobo. Another detective was injured on that fateful night.
Police recovered a pistol and a magazine with five rounds of ammunition.

In an interview yesterday, the Criminal Investigations Detective southern region public relations officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Douglas Chinyoka, said detectives used sniffer dogs to trail Sibanda.
“We received a tip-off that he was in Dadamujena in Tsholotsho. A team of detectives left Bulawayo at 5 am yesterday and rushed to the homestead. The suspect was, however, one jump ahead of them because when they arrived he had just left.

“They teamed up with police from the dog section and trailed him for about 20 kilometres,” said Det Asst Insp Chinyoka.
He said the suspect started running when he saw the police closing in on him.

“The detectives ordered him to stop but he disobeyed. They fired warning shots. The suspect then exchanged gunfire with them and he got shot on the waist,” said Det Asst Insp Chinyoka.
He said the suspect shot himself in the head when he realised that he was cornered.

“He turned his gun on himself and put a bullet through his head,” said Det Asst Insp Chinyoka.
Prior to the shooting, Sibanda had reportedly vowed to some friends that police would never take him alive.
The body was brought to Bulawayo Central Police Station for finger printing, before it was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary.
Det Asst Insp Chinyoka said the gun would be taken for ballistic tests in Harare.

He thanked members of the public who tipped police on the whereabouts of the suspect.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to the members of the public who supplied information that led to the capture of the suspect. We would like to encourage others to follow their example by cooperating with police to make the country safe for everyone,” said Det Asst Insp Chinyoka.

He encouraged members of the public to exercise vigilance as the festive season was approaching and issued a stern warning to criminals.-Chronicle