Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) said it will maintain a heavy presence of its security officers at strategic vending sites and illegal commuter pick-up points while training more as part of efforts to ensure sanity prevails in the Central Business District (CBD).
Council noted that there has been a marked improvement in order and compliance with by-laws within the CBD following a recruitment drive that added more than 172 new municipal police officers, adding that they are training more.
The CBD had long grappled with issues related to lawlessness, disrupting daily business operations and community life.
The city council responded by executing regular enforcement operations after its recruitment and training drive churned out 172 municipal police officers.
These were deployed by the local authority to confront widespread lawlessness characterised by unauthorised passenger pick-ups and chaotic street vending, particularly pronounced along 6th Avenue, contributing to an increasingly troublesome environment.
The activities were initially limited to certain streets but have escalated into widespread chaos within the city, with illegal pickup and drop-off points frequently situated near fast-food outlets while those roasting maize cobs were mushrooming at every street corner.
In a statement, BCC affirmed that enforcement efforts will persist until a semblance of normalcy and respect for the law is reinstated.
“The police are dedicated to maintaining order and safeguarding the city’s infrastructure. To achieve this, their focus is on enforcing compliance with by-laws, especially in high-traffic areas like informal trading and public transport,” the statement read.
BCC emphasised that the deployment of municipal police officers will remain strategic and adaptable to address the specific challenges presented by different locales.
“Currently, the municipal police’s efforts are concentrated on the sectors where disorder and potential infrastructure damage risks are highest. Adjustments in deployment will occur as the situation warrants, ensuring effective responses to ongoing challenges,” the BCC noted.
Despite having a fully staffed security section, BCC underscored the necessity for additional resources, particularly transportation, to better support their initiatives for maintaining order and cleanliness throughout the city.
Previously curtailed by numbers in the maintenance of order and compliance with by-laws, BCC said they were on a sounder footing as far as their police department is concerned.
“Ongoing training of municipal police officers is essential for the sustainability of our operations and for ensuring comprehensive coverage across the city,” the statement read.
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