Ecobank Heist Suspects: Confusion Around Israel Zulu Name
A police statement in 2023 says Zulu and another suspect died in a shootout with police officers.
Ecobank Heist Suspects: Confusion Around Israel Zulu Name
In a twist that could rival any crime thriller, questions are swirling around the Bulawayo Ecobank robbery, casting a shadow over the police’s investigation.
Ecobank Heist Suspects Named | Interpol Roped In
According to state-owned media, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have named Israel Zulu as a suspect in what is being dubbed the country’s largest heist. But here’s the kicker: the ZRP had previously announced that they had killed an Israel Zulu in a shootout last October.
The plot thickened when journalist Zenzele Ndebele posed the million-dollar question: “Is the Israel Zulu shot by police last year the same person now suspected in the Ecobank robbery?”
This query set off a frenzy online, with theories ranging from mistaken identity to the possibility of two people sharing the same name. The most entertaining theory, however, was that Zulu had returned as a ghost to pull off the robbery.
The ZRP, in their usual cryptic manner, have yet to clear up the confusion surrounding Israel Zulu.
Ecobank Heist Suspects: Confusion Around Israel Zulu Name
In a statement issued on October 18, 2023, they recounted the events of the previous year. Israel Zulu, aged 50, and his partner-in-crime, David Dausi Takawira, 43, were involved in a shootout with officers near Manyame River in Southlea Park, Harare.
This followed their arrest in Mutare, where they had allegedly revealed the location of hidden firearms. When the police arrived, the suspects attempted to flee, leading to the fatal shootout. Both men were later pronounced dead at Sally Mugabe Hospital.
Adding to the intrigue, Zulu and Takawira had been linked to at least ten armed robbery cases in Harare and Bulawayo, dating back to 2019. One particularly bold heist involved a robbery at a business in Mount Pleasant, Harare, where they made off with a whopping US$362,000 and ZWL$28,539.
The mystery of Israel Zulu’s identity has deepened. Is it a simple case of mistaken identity? A twin brother? Or had Zulu indeed returned from the afterlife to commit one last grand heist?
As the investigations continue, there is hope that the real Israel Zulu, dead or alive, will eventually be revealed.
