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Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
The year 2013 has been a tough one for the police who had to double their efforts to tackle increasing cases of crime and the extra burden brought about by the constitutional referendum on March 16 and the July 31 harmonised elections which required the force to be extra alert.
The force operated without adequate resources as a result of funding problems from the fiscus, but remained on top of the situation.
As a result, the referendum and the harmonised elections were held peacefully.
Police warned people against engaging in political violence in the wake of a series of reported cases of MDC-T intra-party violence in March.
President Mugabe had also expressed concern over reports of resurgence in political violence and urged people to vote peacefully in the referendum and the harmonised elections.
Calls for security sector reform by the MDC-T also seized the security forces for the better of the year, but these were dismissed outrightly.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri was quoted as referring to MDC-T as “malcontents”.
“Before saying too much, I wish to take this opportunity to warn liars and peddlers of falsehoods who dream of talking to us, to this general and to that general in their sleep, that the law will visit them harshly,” he warned.
“Some of us have no business talking to individuals of no substance whose sole purpose and agenda is to create confusion within the rank and file of the defence and security forces.
“We are too busy to engage confused malcontents who do not know their identity and have a propensity to destroy what others, dead and alive, fought for.
“They must stop abusing the freedom and democracy that so many Zimbabweans died for. I advise journalists to stop being used in this regard.”
His views were shared by leaders of the defence forces who scorned at the call for security sector reforms.
Crime was also rampant and these included murder, armed robberies, housebreaking and domestic violence.
A number of cops were kidnapped while on duty during the year, with others being assaulted, while some were dumped in the bush by uncouth kombi drivers.
Police arrested a number of suspects for committing various offences, while others are still on the run with the officers pursuing them.
Others suspects were shot and killed for retaliating when facing arrest or attempting to flee.
Highway robberies also increased during the year under review.
At least 51 people were killed in Harare during the last 10 months, most of them being victims of domestic violence and armed robberies.
According to police statistics, 50 people were murdered in the city during the same period last year.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tadius Chibanda said some people were killed by robbers after they tried to resist.
Between January and June, police recorded 100 215 cases of major crimes, a two percent decline compared to 102 288 cases during the same period last year, with a significant reduction in murder and armed robberies.
During the first half of the year, police recorded a seven percent decrease in murder cases, while armed robberies went down by 31 percent.
At least 3 499 people were kidnapped and robbed by pirate taxi drivers countrywide in the first half of this year, while 284 others fell prey to armed robbers.
The situation was more critical in Harare where at least 1 200 cases of kidnap and robbery by pirate taxi drivers were recorded in the past four months alone, with most of the victims being offered lifts in and around the city.
The figures are high, but reflect a five percent decrease compared to the same period last year when 4 108 cases were recorded.
A lone armed robber threatened to rape his victim if she refused to hand over her car keys and cash, alleging that he was HIV positive, in one of five cases of armed robbery reported in the city in one weekend in February.
Online Reporter