HARARE - Police have shot dead an armed robber on its wanted list and are on the hunt for two more.

Peace Mutema, wanted for a spate of armed robberies in Harare and Bulawayo, was killed on New Year’s Eve after detectives received a tip off that he was meeting a relative in the middle of the night in the city centre.

National police spokesperson Andrew Phiri confirmed the shooting saying Mutema died on the spot.

A pistol stolen from Bulawayo was recovered besides his body.

Mutema’s accomplices, Clever Nengomasha and one Mudzingwa, who were involved in the shoot-out, fled the scene and a manhunt is underway.

Phiri said the trio pounced on a shop in Bulawayo and stole $450 in cash and airtime recharge cards worth $191 000.

Still in Bulawayo Mutema and Nengomasha pounced on Pacific Holdings and got away with $10 000 cash, 65 000 South African Rand, a Toyota Camry, a pistol and three mobile phones. They later dumped the car in Harare’s Greendale suburb.

On Christmas Eve, Phiri said Mutema in the company of his Nengomasha and Mudzingwa, robbed a Total service station in downtown Harare of $1 400 cash and a Mazda Familiar vehicle.

“There was a shoot-out after Mutema opened fire at the police. We were reacting to a tip off that this man was meeting his relative in town. He tried to run away but police dogs were brought in to assist,” said Phiri.

“We urge members of the public to continue giving the police support so that we could apprehend wanted criminals,” said Phiri.

According to police, Nengomasha has been on the police wanted list for over a decade now and has been hiding in South Africa.