Chronicle EditorRutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Cde Abedinico Ncube is set to engage the Gwanda Municipality over Greenland notoriety as violent crime has escalated in the gold mining town.
Minister Ncube who last month met security officials and Gwanda councillors to find ways of clamping down on crime that is on the rise in the town and province bemoaned the notoriety and expressed the urgency of engaging the municipality to find a long-lasting solution to the menace.
“We are not happy about what is happening at Greenland. I am set to have a meeting with the municipality of Gwanda and understand how the people operating there were allocated those stands. We are not happy with the escalating crime in that place and in Gwanda as a town. People are killing each other too much. Last week I was called at night after violence had erupted. I also went to Gwanda Provincial Hospital and found a number of people injured after being attacked by mobs. Generally, we are not happy,” said Minister Ncube.
Gwanda Mayor Councillor Njabulo Siziba also expressed the same sentiments saying he was going to engage stakeholders in the security sector to intensify the fight against criminal activities while calling on council to regularise business operations at Greenland that has become a notorious haven for illicit activities.
“People have been butchered in Greenland. It has become notorious. However, the place has a political history – originally it was set aside for a youth centre. The original youths who registered with council are no longer there, but as a place that was opened for business, business has been going on but most of the business has been illicit and unregularised,” Clr Siziba told Sunday News.
However, in a letter addressed to Minister Ncube last Friday, Greenland Youth Centre chairperson Mr Tinovimbanashe Dube said they welcome any interventions that will solve criminal activities at Greenland.
He, however, urged the municipality of Gwanda to deal with crime and not purport to be “restructuring” the place while closing out a Zanu-PF inspired empowerment drive.
“Since opening of Greenland Youth Centre, hundreds of people have been employed and several families are surviving from trading there. As law abiding citizens, we do not resist restructuring that is meant for the betterment of the place, but we are against shutting down our means of survival. Restructuring may occur while we are at work. We have on several occasions complied with council on issues that needed attention such as Zesa cable re-wiring amongst other issues, but the latest move only smacks of a hidden agenda from council which wants to completely get us out of business using their political muscle. We seek guidance from your high office,” reads the letter.
Meanwhile, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were working tirelessly to combat crime in the town and encouraged communities to help them in the fight. -@nyeve14
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter