Crime Family Under Fire: Vumbunu Sisters Face Fresh Armed Robbery Charges
BULAWAYO – In a dramatic twist to an already infamous crime saga, three women, including two sisters of the notorious Vumbunu brothers have been hauled back into court, this time facing armed robbery charges involving US$25,840.
The case has reignited public scrutiny over a family long linked to high-profile heists and organised crime in Bulawayo.
Sekai Vumbunu, Georgina Vumbunu, and Florence Chisiri appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Archie Wochiwunga on Tuesday.
The trio, who only confirmed their names and the charges they face, were remanded in custody until 31 October 2025.
Georgina, who is wheelchair-bound, pleaded for bail, citing her responsibility for young children. “I have little children and no one to look after them,” she said.
However, Magistrate Wochiwunga denied the request, stating,
“You are facing a serious crime, and this court has no jurisdiction to grant bail.”
The magistrate advised the accused to apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court and reminded them of their legal right to seek representation or act on their own.
Prosecutor Nomthandazo Mafu told the court that the women were part of a wider criminal network operating in and around Bulawayo.
Sekai is alleged to have used the alias Edith Dube to conceal her identity while engaging in illegal foreign currency dealings.
Court documents reveal that on 12 October 2025, the trio allegedly supplied inside information to two male suspects — Nekimiya Dladla (38) and Simon Dube (28) who then carried out an armed robbery.
The victim, a woman whose identity has been withheld, was intercepted near Mossel House at the corner of 6th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street.
Armed with guns, the suspects reportedly threatened to shoot her before stealing US$1,630, US$23,160 from a bedroom, and two wedding rings valued at US$1,050.
Investigators linked Dladla and Dube to a string of armed robberies, including a raid at Nkolozi Investments, a bureau de change located at the CIPF Building, where robbers posed as clients and made off with US$18,000 and R151,000.
Another incident involved the robbery of a restaurant patron of US$4,000 and R60,000 at the corner of Fife Street and 12th Avenue on 10 August 2025.
Detectives from the Homicide Section conducted extensive investigations, leading to the arrest of Dladla, who later implicated Dube and the Vumbunu sisters.
The arrests have intensified public interest in the Vumbunu crime family, which rose to national notoriety following the capture of brothers Elijah and Abraham Vumbunu — dubbed the “terror twins” for their alleged role in the US$4 million Ecobank heist in October 2024.
Raised in a polygamous household in Mzilikazi suburb, the Vumbunu brothers have long been associated with organised crime, including car-jackings, gold robberies, and violent home invasions..
Sources close to the investigation say their criminal activities date back to the mid-1990s, with several family members implicated in similar offences.
Abraham, recently released from a 14-year prison sentence, allegedly rejoined Elijah in planning the Ecobank heist just two weeks after his release.
The robbery, described as “movie-style precision,” involved six armed men overpowering Safeguard security guards transporting cash before fleeing with trunks of money along 9th Avenue.
The brothers were later arrested in South Africa in a joint operation between the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
They are currently awaiting extradition to face charges in Zimbabwe.
The Chronicle reports that the latest developments have placed renewed focus on the Vumbunu family’s alleged role in a sprawling criminal enterprise that continues to challenge law enforcement efforts in the region.
