adminTHE application of instant mob justice on suspected wrong-doers is criminal.
Suspected thieves, marriage-wreckers and sex workers are usually subjected to this form of punishment once they are caught off-side.
Some are given a thorough hiding while others have been killed, as a result of mob justice.
Despite casualties, as a result of this punishment, people never seem to learn and repent.
In this era of social media, videos of suspected wrong-doers are usually recorded and circulated to the public.
In extreme cases, we have seen people who are caught, in foiled shoplifting attempts, being humiliated by shop assistants.
Instead of calling the police to arrest the culprits, some shop assistants are now taking matters into their own hands. This is all wrong since there are people tasked to deal with suspected criminals.
In yesterday’s issue, we carried a touching story involving a suspected livestock thief, who was forced to eat raw meat. The suspect, who is an elderly man from Matabeleland South, was forced to eat raw goat meat.
The incident allegedly occurred at Guyu Police Station.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident. He, however, urged people to desist from engaging in acts of pre-trial punishment.
He also assured the public that the culprits, who humiliated the elderly suspected thief, will be prosecuted.
The video, which is now trending on social media, is both sickening and disgusting. While losing your valuables to thieves is painful, mob justice is never a solution.
As a way forward, there is need for police chiefs to educate the masses on how to handle such cases.
The police need to step up campaigns and educate people not to take such matters into their own hands.
Such disregard of the law has serious consequences like death.
Suspected thieves deserve a chance to be heard and defend themselves in the courts of law. By leaving such matters, in the hands of the police, it will help us bring desired results.
Once convicted, such culprits will then pay for their sins.
And, the desired justice, can only be delivered once we follow the correct procedures. It should also be noted that some of the suspected culprits deserve another chance to repent.
In cases where serial offenders are caught in the act, they still deserve not to be humiliated, since the courts of law are clear in such matters.
Following the correct procedures, is the only solution since we are guaranteed that the culprits will be rehabilitated when convicted.
On the other hand, we should also try to avoid trouble by wilfully engaging in criminal activities.
We should also try to lead a clean life and also teach our children to differentiate between the good and the bad. Grooming people to become responsible in future should start at household level.
By doing so, we will be guaranteeing that we are building a crime-fearing generation.
In short, let’s shun mob justice and leave the law to take its course.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter