IN a twist of fate worthy of a Bollywood Zeeworld comedy, the neighborhood of Mtendere found itself at the center of a whirlwind of chaos, thanks to a band of mischievous misfits who could have easily been cast as the clumsy bad guys in a sitcom.
Unlike the meaning of its name, Mtendere township found itself in anything but a state of tranquility as the mischievous mischief-makers turned it into a hub of havoc and hilarity.
Police have captured nine suspected troublemakers who had turned Mtendere and its neighboring areas into their personal playground of pranks and pilfering.
Police spokesperson officer Rae Hamoonga said the arrested suspects were taken into custody on March 7, 2024 around 19:00 hours.
The suspects, whose ages seemed to defy logic ranging from 12 to 19 years old, were apprehended after an unexpected turn of events involving a stolen cellphone and a rather talkative juvenile mastermind.
One of the not so little perpetrators, barely out of primary school, found himself on the wrong side of the law after being nabbed with a handful of stolen phones.
Instead of resorting to the usual youthful defiance, this precocious pre-teen decided to spill the beans faster than a bag of marbles on a steep hill after interrogation from the police.
“The arrest and recovery was made possible after a male juvenile aged 12, from Mtendere, was apprehended with stolen phones,” stated Hamoonga.
” During the subsequent interview, the juvenile cooperated with the police and provided crucial information that led the police to a location in Chibolya where the criminal activities were taking place.”
With the inside scoop in hand, the police wasted no time in descending upon a rented hideout in the neighboring Chibolya Compound and successfully arrested the suspects.
The police also stumbled upon a veritable treasure trove of ill-gotten gains, including a bicycle presumably used for a getaway, a plasma television (perhaps intended for an impromptu screening of their own surveillance footage), not to mention two laptops and a staggering eight mobile phones.
The suspects may have to brush up on their slapstick skills for their next big performance – behind bars.
Hamoonga has urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police without any delay.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, March 9, 2024
