MORE than 26 000 suspects are on the police most wanted list for committing various offences countrywide and are believed to be behind a spate of criminal activities that have been haunting the country in recent months.
Some of the wanted criminals were released on bail and their whereabouts were still not known.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said they had 26 411 suspects on their most wanted list.
“We have them for committing various offences such as armed robbery, rape, murder, unlawful entry, among other offences,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said most of the criminals absconded after they were granted bail and failed to turn up at the courts when they were due for routine appearance.
“They do not bother to honour their reporting conditions and next remand dates,” Chief Supt Nyathi said. “Some of them go on to commit other offences while they are on the run.”
Chief Supt Nyathi said they had since launched a manhunt for the suspects and appealed to the public to assist the police to arrest the criminals if they know their hideouts.
“Most of these suspects live in the community and members of the public know them,” he said. “So we are appealing to anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of these criminals to assist us.”
Chief Supt Nyathi applauded the public for providing the police with information that assisted with the arrest of some notorious criminals since January this year.
Some of the suspects on the police most wanted list and due to appear in court for rape are Innocent Chabanga, David Masomere, Nathaniel Taruvinga, Langton Matsilele, Tavengwa Mazitulela, Sam Dolesi, Nomatter Mudavanhu, Priscilla Mangundu, Joseph Fashu and Raymond Simbanegavi.
Antony Milton, Often Gocha, Aleck Chaparadza, Regis Kasemburo, Never Karonda, Collin Mugove Chigova, John Nyandoro, Thomas Kanyamba, Jabulani Ndlovu and Milton Sibanda are all wanted for murder.
Chief Supt Nyathi said they were also looking for Pemina Simbanegavi, Samson Chakanyuka, Shakeman Rwakufa, Marvelous Manavele, Happy Madondo, Tawanda Muchengeti, Ian Mugari, Tasisio Mandava, Leonard Masocha and Oscar Nyamaharo for unlawful entry and theft.
The police are also after suspected armed robbers Chenjerai Mudzingwa, Obert Minetsi, Shepherd Mudavanhu, Tapiwa Choto, Ayros Mayongowere, Phanuel Mune Muchineripi, Richard Besa, Daniel Chijoko Muchinerepi Utete and Sever Jonas.
Tonderai Marongedza, Mudavanhu Chimunhu, Dubai Matenda, Darel Englbirth, Bruno Fungai Takawira, Kelvin Kanda Phillip, Stanley Muteke, Timiyi Chisuku, Michael Brette French, Innocent Terera Muchuwa and another identified as Mutevera alias Shumba are also wanted for robberies and theft of cars.
Police sources yesterday said some of the suspects could have fled to Mozambique and South Africa.
Criminals are resorting to all sorts of capers, with at least 3 499 people kidnapped and robbed by pirate taxi drivers countrywide in the first half of this year, while 284 others fell prey to armed robbers.
The situation is more critical in Harare where at least 1 200 cases of kidnap and robbery by pirate taxi drivers were recorded in the past four months alone, with most of the victims being offered lifts in and around the city.
The figures are high, but reflect a five percent decrease compared to the same period last year when 4 108 cases were recorded.
Last month, over 24 suspects were arrested in separate incidents in Harare on allegations of committing a number of robberies, some using firearms.
Early this year, at least 2 000 criminal suspects were reported to be roaming the streets free as their appeals could not be dealt with timeously at the courts due to shortage of transcribers and poor recording equipment.
The protracted delays had resulted in the suspects, among them car-jackers, rapists, armed robbers and fraudsters, continuing with their criminal activities, while others had since breached their bail conditions and disappeared.
Judicial Service Commission deputy secretary Mr Rex Shana recently said the High Court was sitting on 2 000 appeal cases, while the Supreme Court had 122.