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WE are concerned about the rise in cases of murder in Bulawayo and call for a robust response to the scourge which is threatening to get out of control. We are particularly worried that some of these killings are being carried out by young people from seemingly stable family set ups — a scenario which should alarm parents and guardians as it shows a degree of incompetence as far as parenting is concerned.
Alcohol or substance abuse plays a major part in most of these murders with young people prone to engaging in fights after getting intoxicated and killing each other over trivial issues. Statistics released by the police last week indicated that although the province recorded a 0.8 percent reduction in overall crime, murder cases rose sharply between January and September as compared to the same period last year.
In the first nine months of 2014, Bulawayo recorded 14,759 reported cases with figures declining to 13,500 in the same period this year. Murder cases rose by 23 percent with 27 people being killed in the city this year compared to 22 last year between January and September. Police have raised concern over incidents of crime and called on residents to assist them to rid the city of crime.
Assistant Commissioner Edmore Mlambo, in charge of operations and crime in the city’s suburban district, last week expressed concern over incidences of murder, rape, unlawful entry and theft, rape, theft of motor vehicles, robbery, domestic violence and abuse that continue to stalk Bulawayo. He said it was disheartening that people were killing each other over trivial issues. “People no longer respect the sanctity of human life.
Most of these murders are due to social issues. We have a case of a 17-year-old boy who killed his aunt over a cellphone. This is not the only case, we have heard of a man who killed his friend after a quarrel over the type of movie they were watching,” said Asst Comm Mlambo as he called for tolerance and cooperation from members of the public.
In August, a Bulawayo man died after he was stabbed five times by his friend after an argument over who had visited more cities in South Africa. Lwazi Mtetwa, 21, stabbed Thabo Thebe in an alcohol-induced rage as the two friends rowed about who knew South Africa better.
Another example of a mindless murder occurred at the weekend where a gang of Sixth Form pupils killed a man by pounding his head with a brick, fracturing his skull in a fight over passage through a bridge in Nkulumane suburb. The four high school boys were arrested on Sunday for the brutal murder of Vengai Clayton Muza, 27. Muza died on the spot while his friend Brannon Moyo, 29, was left unconscious following the attack.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango bemoaned an increased involvement of school going children in criminal activities and chided parents and guardians for not taking an interest in their children’s lives. She said at a time they were supposed to be studying, the boys were out drinking and partying and ended up committing a heinous crime. We concur with Insp Simango and urge parents to play their part in eradicating crime by monitoring their children.
Bulawayo has of late been hit by a craze of wild parties by young people where they embark on marathon drinking sessions and engage in other anti-social behaviour. These shindigs offer fertile ground for criminal activities as children lose their inhibitions after consuming copious amounts of alcohol and end up fighting, having unprotected sex or committing murder.
We also call on the wider community of Bulawayo to assist the police to perform their duties by dropping hints in suggestion boxes, utilising toll-free lines to report crime and forming neighbourhood watch committees to fight crime in their backyards. Criminals are usually people who are known in their communities and it is in the interest of law abiding citizens to expose them and ensure that they are removed from society and confined to jails where they belong.
Residents are also better advised against using footpaths, dark alleys and walking alone at night as criminals usually prowl these areas in search of their prey. Most random murders are usually robberies gone wrong and police counsel against resisting armed criminals and we encourage members of the public to take heed and cooperate because their lives are worth more than money or any other valuable.
Online Reporter