adminLethokuhle Moyo Chronicle Reporter
MURDER cases are on the increase in the country, according to a survey conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat). In the first six months of this year, 487 murder cases were recorded countrywide, up from 429 cases recorded within the same period last year. This represents an increase of 58 cases.
The highest number of murder cases in the first six months of this year was recorded in May at 106, while February had the least number of recorded cases at 61.
“The figures given are crimes reported to the police for the periods shown. Their ‘national’ total is derived from all stations,” reads part of the report.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment on the crime statistics.
However, the increase in murder cases come at a time when a Bulawayo High Court Judge Maxwell Takuva said it was worrying to note that youths were the main perpetrators of violent crimes.
The judge said this two weeks ago in a matter in which a youth was being charged for a murder that he committed while drunk.
“It is quite disturbing that youthful offenders aged between 21 and 25 are the ones contributing to an increase in violent crimes, particularly in beer drinking places. It is no doubt that both the accused and the deceased were drunk at the time of committing the crime,” he said.
In the case, Zibusiso Mpofu, 23, from Cowdray Park was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years in jail for fatally striking his colleague with a concrete brick on the head for failing to contribute R4 towards the purchase of two litres of opaque beer.
On Friday, an 18-year old teenage hooker together with an accomplice appeared in court also facing murder charges for luring a 40-year-old bar patron to a dark alley before fatally attacking and robbing him.
Prisca Mudyanadzo, 18, appeared before Takuva with Maxwell Moyo, 22, of Vundu Flats in Makokoba for striking a man with a stone on the head and stabbing him with a knife.
Their other accomplice Tafadzwa Hove died in prison on August 8.
Online Reporter