One of the key suspects linked to the sensational US$4 million Ecobank Bulawayo armed robbery, a case that dominated national and international headlines in 2023, has been extradited from Botswana to face trial in Zimbabwe. The suspect, Bhekani Mlilo (40), appeared at the Bulawayo Regional Magistrates’ Court on Friday, marking a significant development in one of the country’s biggest-ever commercial robberies.
Mlilo appeared before magistrate Archie Wochiwunga, facing a charge of armed robbery. Although he was not asked to plead, he confirmed understanding the allegations placed before him. He is being legally represented by Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mutuso Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys.
The court ordered that Mlilo be remanded in custody until 5 December, when the State is expected to be ready to open the trial.
His lawyer noted the delay since the commission of the alleged crime, saying:
“The matter happened last year on 3 October and that is a long period of time. We are ready for commencement of trial and we hope the State will be ready to start the trial next month on 5 December.”
According to prosecutor Concilia Ncube, Mlilo was part of a coordinated and heavily armed gang that executed the robbery on 3 October 2023, targeting Ecobank’s Bulawayo branch situated at the corner of 9th Avenue and Fife Street. The heist was meticulously planned and involved several suspects, many of whom allegedly played specialised roles.
The main suspects included the infamous Vumbunu brothers, who have been linked to several high-profile robberies in Southern Africa. Other suspected accomplices named by the State include Elijah Temayi, Abraham Vumbunu, Simon Xola Ngcobo, Menzeli Mpofu, Khalid Ntimen, and several individuals who remain on the run.
Ms Ncube told the court that the Vumbunu brothers had been arrested earlier in South Africa and are now awaiting extradition to Zimbabwe, where they will join Mlilo in the trial once formal processes are complete.
To carry out the robbery, the suspects allegedly used a white Ford Ranger registered in South Africa under the name Nomsa Aneline Zingela. In their attempt to mask foreign involvement, the group reportedly removed the South African registration plates and replaced them with Zimbabwean plates as they approached Bulawayo’s central business district.
Authorities Extradite Key Suspect in US$4 Million Ecobank Robbery
The robbery occurred at around 3:30 PM, a time when both the bank and surrounding area were still busy with afternoon traffic and business activity. Prosecutor Ncube said the group arrived armed with several firearms and immediately targeted a Safeguard cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle that was attending to the Ecobank premises.
Upon arriving, the gang allegedly blocked the CIT vehicle, preventing the guards from escaping or calling for immediate backup. Armed with pistols and rifles, the robbers reportedly ordered the security personnel to lie down, threatening to shoot anyone who resisted.
“They apprehended the guards and held them hostage, threatening to shoot them if they resisted,” Ms Ncube told the court.
After gaining control, the suspects allegedly seized four metal cash boxes. Three of these were loaded with money from the 9th Avenue Ecobank branch and contained US$3 983 500. During the robbery, the suspects also disarmed the Safeguard guards and took three service firearms, adding to the severity of the charges.
The State further revealed that the gang stole an additional metal cash box from Ecobank Bradfield, containing US$465 500, which was also loaded into the getaway vehicle.
After securing the money, the robbers reportedly sped away from the crime scene, disappearing before law enforcement could respond. The heist became one of the biggest robberies in Zimbabwean banking history and triggered a multi-country manhunt that eventually led to arrests in Botswana and South Africa.
Mlilo’s extradition is expected to pave the way for one of the most closely watched criminal trials in recent Zimbabwean history. With the Vumbunu brothers awaiting extradition and several suspects still at large, police say investigations are still ongoing.
The State is preparing evidence, while Mlilo remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance on 5 December, where the trial is expected to formally begin.
