Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
HARARE City Council’s operation to remove children living in the streets from the central business district has been met with widespread applause from women who have long been the primary targets of aggressive begging and outright theft.
Council confirmed the crackdown yesterday, revealing that municipal police, led by Chief Superintendent Mhizha, “rounded up street kids” who had become a “menace in the city, harassing residents and stealing from them.”
“Municipal police officers led by Chief Superintendent Mhizha rounded up street kids in the Central Business District,” Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Stanley Gama.
“The street kids are becoming a menace in the city, harassing residents and stealing from them. The street kids in the city have also become notorious for committing horrendous crimes.”
He also revealed that all the street kids were taken to the police. For many women, the activities resulted in significant personal and financial loss.
The youngsters, whose ages reportedly range from 5 to 20, had created a climate of fear by snatching cellphones, purses, food, and aggressively targeting women’s accessories like wigs and jewellery.
Vimbai Gwesu, a 17-year-old from Warren Park, said. “I lost almost three frontal wigs to these street kids; they just snatch and flee.
“The combined value of wigs was US$150, considering that I had bought each at US$50.”
Other victims recounted losing jewellery and other valuables, welcoming the Council’s move as a necessary step to restore safety and order.
“I lost my headphones at the corner of Robert Mugabe and Chinhoyi,” stated one victim, who gave her name only as Tanaka.
“The guy came up behind me and just grabbed them. I screamed, but nobody came to help.”
While celebrating the initial success, there was a general consensus that a one-off operation is insufficient to address the deep-seated problem.
“The blitz on street kids should be done regularly,” Ms Chiyedza Zvikaramba, another concerned resident, said.
“They can just disappear for a few days, but next week they will resurface again so they need to do these blitzes on almost every week.”
Another concerned resident who requested anonymity said it was ironic that the criminal activities often occurred in full view of City authorities.
“It’s sad that these street kids are always roaming the Town House boundary; the City fathers can actually see these street kids from their offices, but this is a good start. Every week there should do a regular blitz.”
When contacted for comment, National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to receive the report.
Africa Unity Square, Harare Gardens, and the areas around Town House are some of the most notorious locations where street children are reportedly wreaking havoc and snatching people’s belongings.
