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Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
POLICE have expressed concern over instances of murder countrywide with 263 cases recorded during the first half of the year. Most of these result from domestic disputes. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the figure was unacceptably high and of major concern to the force.
“As from last week, police recorded five murder cases countrywide. Such a trend reflects wanton behavioural pattern that needs to be checked,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
“During the first half of the year, 263 lives were lost as a result of murder compared to 280 during the same period in 2012.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba urged the public to value the sanctity of life and not to resort to murder as a way of settling disputes.
“The police has qualified counsellors who can assist to solve such matters where disputes arise. Even elders can be involved in solving such disputes,” she said.
“Instant justice does not pay as the long arm of the law will always catch up with the perpetrators. The public must, therefore, know that police will not hesitate to arrest offenders and make sure that they face justice.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said of the five murder cases reported last week three occurred in Harare while Bulawayo and Nkayi had one each.
“The first case occurred at Inyathi in Nkayi where a body of a male adult was found in a disused mine shaft on 15 August, 2013,” she said. “The body had injuries on the chin, right eye and right shoulder.”
She said investigations revealed that the deceased had been drinking with two friends when he went missing.
In another case which occurred on August 18, around 9pm, a man found his wife in his house with another man and stabbed him to death. Asst Comm Charamba said the man fled from the scene and a man hunt has since been launched.
In another case a Bulawayo man was found dead along Lobengula West.
“The body of the now deceased had visible injuries that he might have been involved in a fight,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
A Harare businessman, Irvine Mereki also shot and killed his long-time girlfriend Clariss Chopamba before turning the lethal weapon on himself in Avondale.
Online Reporter