Matrix private investigators, operating under the radar, exposed and led to the arrest of a tightly-knit syndicate of car thieves from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Malawi.
Matrix investigators following leads and using advanced tracking devices managed to locate a Land Cruiser ZX V8 in Malawi after it was stolen in Zimbabwe.
Zim and S.A syndicate
Matrix investigations and records indicate that a Zimbabwean, Tendai Mtungwauzi, working in cahoots with two S.A. nationals (women), hatched a plan to steal a top-of-the-range vehicle.
Their plot involved using the two women to rent the vehicle from Afro Trails Car Hire while Mtungwauzi acted as a front, hosting the ‘tourists.’
Records indicate that the car was rented for 7 days, but it was not reported when the period expired.
Matrix investigators hits the ground
Armed with information, Matrix Director Tafadzwa Chidawa and his team went to the drawing board.
“The vehicle was stolen on 14 April 2025 and was rented by two women from S.A. The paper trail identifies the woman as Jolene Margaret Janse Van Vuuren,” said Chidawa.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle skipped the country into Mozambiqu”e.
Matrix-Interpol relations
Through a well-orchestrated initiative between Good Matrix and International Police, the team tracked the car in Malawi’s central region.
Matrix in Malawi
Using instinctive investigation techniques, Chidawa and crew went to the leafy suburbs of Malawi.
“We blended in as locals traveling on motorcycles and managed to get to a house where the vehicle was parked.
“Using and respecting Malawian laws, we engaged law enforcement agents help,” said Chidawa.
He said on 14 May 2025, after 25 days, the car went missing; they recovered it.
“Triumphantly, we noted the car’s engine had been tampered with, and the Malawi police units impounded it,” he said.
On the day the vehicle was recovered, Malawi police spokesperson Foster Benjamin said they had arrested two individuals in connection with the matter.
“We arrested a Zimbabwean national, Tendai Mtunguazi (40), and an S.A. national, Kabelo Khotlele (28), on suspicion of being involved in the crime.
“We are searching for four other suspects, including two S.A. women. One has been identified as Jolene Margaret,” he said.
Chidawa said a search of the two S.A. women is currently underway.
“We have since established that these two women are wanted persons in their country.
“As for the car, paperwork is being finalised to bring back to Zimbabwe.
