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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu , Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
BUSINESS owners in Gwanda have resorted to moving their products from their business premises overnight following a spate of thefts in the town.
The high crime cases over the past months have sparked widespread fear among residents from the town who feel their valuables are no longer safe even during the day.
Daring thieves are now committing the crimes even outside guarded premises in daylight, which has alarmed residents. Cases of crime in the town which were previously being reported in the high density are also common in the city centre.
The town has recently recorded an increase in cases of carjackings, theft from motor vehicles, house breaking, break-ins into business premises.
Some business owners now remove their wares from their shops and take them to their homes and display them on the following morning.
Mr Ndumiso Dube who sells cellphones and computer accessories said thieves once broke into his shop and stole his wares.
“I used to leave my products in my shop overnight but ever since people broke into my shop I have stopped. I now carry my wares home every evening and I display them the following morning. It consumes time to be moving my stock but there is nothing I can do as I risk losing it all. Break-ins into business premises and homes have been on the increase which has left us in fear,” he said.
“These culprits take advantage if you are selling small things that can be easily moved like my products.
They don’t need vehicles to transport their loot. They steal our products and sell them elsewhere.”
Ms Praise Hlatshwayo who sells cosmetics at a shop in the city centre said thieves once broke into the shop she rents and took her products. She said they broke a window and cut through a burglar bar in order to gain access into the shop.
Ms Hlatshwayo said she suffered a great loss as she had to buy new stock.
Ms Qiniso Nyoni who sells clothing said when she knocks off each evening she carries her stock home.
She said it requires a lot of labour as she has to carry heavy bags of clothing home. Ms Nyoni said she also has to arrive at the shop way ahead of the opening time each morning in order to display her products.
She said while she has not been a victim of theft she had to take measures to protect her stock. Ms Nyoni said she could not afford to hire a security guard.
“It’s best for me to carry my stock home because if I leave it in the shop it might get stolen. I can’t afford to hire a security guard. With the level of crime being recorded hiring a security guard isn’t a guarantee of safety as some of the robbers may come heavily armed and overpower the security,” she said
The upsurge of crime has become one of the topical issues in the mining town, with residents calling for intervention from the police.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said they have intensified patrols across the town to curb crime. She said there was also a need for collective efforts to fight crime.
“Crime is always worrisome as it is a huge threat to people that is why we have intensified patrols and increased our visibility across Gwanda. As police we may not manage to guard every house and business premises hence the need for neighbourhood watch committees that will work with police. In the meantime, we will ensure that a police base is established in every crime hotspot,” she said.
Insp Mangena warned criminals that the long arm of law would catch up with them.
In an incident recorded in July four robbers were gunned down by the police during a shoot-out after they had robbed a local woman of her car and valuables in the city centre. The woman who owns a shop in town was robbed of her vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, at gun point at around 10AM while loading groceries in the vehicle.
The armed robbers allegedly threatened the woman with a firearm and dragged her into the car before reportedly driving off with her some 11km out of town, where they dumped her and removed number plates from the vehicle.
The suspects also robbed the complainant of US$100, R1 000 and $4 000 cash as well as four cellphones.
In other two separate incidents, a Honda Fit and a Toyota Fun Cargo were stolen at the NSSA Complex in daylight after robbers pointed guns at the car owners.
In June, police in Gwanda intercepted and arrested a heavily armed gang of 11 men intending to rob a gold dealer.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Cde Abedinico Ncube recently called for collective effort from various stakeholders in addressing crime which is prevalent in the province. -@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter