Midlands crime rate goes up 16 percent

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
THE crime rate in the Midlands province went up by 16 percent between January and November this year with fraud and armed robberies constituting most of the crimes.

Latest statistics released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) show that between January and November, 29 053 cases were recorded compared to 24 946 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Addressing the Business Against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe (BACFOZ) and Crime Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting in Gweru recently, Officer Commanding Midlands Province Commissioner Winston Muza said robberies involving firearms rose by 13 percent.

These mainly targeted homesteads and motorists along the highways.

Robberies that involve other weapons other than firearms also increased, with 361 cases recorded compared to 276 last year.

841 fraud cases were reported from January to November 2021, compared to 559 cases recorded over the same period last year.

Commissioner Muza said Midlands Province has one of the highest crime rates in the country.

“Crime rate in the province has significantly gone up and even at the national level when crime is discussed Midlands Province is at the top. But, it’s not that the situation has worsened to that extent, it`s only that we are recording all that is happening and reflecting it statistically,” Commissioner Muza said.

He said police have improved their computing of figures and this could partly explain the marked increase in recorded crimes this year.

Before the computing changes, some cases would not be recorded in the crime databases.

He said lately people have been keeping their savings in cash in their homes, workplaces and vehicles, thus becoming targets of robbers.

“Almost everyone now believes in keeping their cash in their pockets, vehicles, homes and business premises.

Thieves then study one’s movements and if they feel that you do not leave your cash at work, they would then know you keep it at home, where they then target you at odd hours, when you are at your weakest and rob you of your savings and other belongings,” said Commissioner Muza.

He said robbers were also pouncing on people who use private transport mostly.

“Everyone travelling now prefers using private vehicles if they are not driving. In the event that they are driving, they want passengers from those hitch-hiking and by doing this they expose themselves to criminals. You pick them into your vehicle, 5 kilometres from the people they produce either firearms or other weapons to rob you of your belongings,” added Commissioner Muza.

On fraud, most of the recorded cases involved the use of fake money and card cloning, among other emerging and sophisticated crimes, according to Commissioner Muza. He added that convictions for crimes involving fraud were low due to an absence of clear laws.

“A fraud case involving the use of fake currency is not well covered within our laws such that no one can get a custodial sentence for using a fake currency. It ends up appearing like the police are conniving with criminals because you arrest them and take them to court and the following day, they are back on the streets dispensing more fake currencies,” Muza said.

He added that card cloning crimes were also common in the province, as criminals target users of bank cards.

“These bank cards we use are only unique to us by a set of 4 digits while the rest are generic to the bank. As a result, criminals are busy spying on your cards while you transact using these cards just to get those 4 digits, which if they get, your bank account becomes vulnerable,” he said.

Another emerging crime involves con artists who create fake companies to dupe unsuspecting business people.

“They come to you as a producer, place an order and promise to pay on terms. They then hire premises such as a warehouse for like two hours and hire two transporters from anyone they come across,” said Commissioner Muza.
Muza said businesspeople needed to be on guard for such crimes so that they do not lose their stock and money to criminals.