Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A new police base has opened in the Phakama area of Gwanda, a known crime hotspot, thanks to a collaborative effort between local legislator Honourable Fisani Moyo, the business community, and residents.
The new base will also cover the Greenland Tuckshops area, which has become a haven for criminal activity in the town.
Stakeholders in the mining town pooled resources to construct additional police bases in an effort to combat rising crime levels. Last year, two police bases were established in Gwanda through similar collaboration between the business community, residents, and the police.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, Officer Commanding Matabeleland South Province, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Zingizi, said the establishment of the police base reflects stakeholder-oriented policing, which is crucial in the fight against crime.
“This police base demonstrates your commitment as locals to fighting crime within your community. This base is a milestone towards achieving the ZRP’s mandate as enshrined in Section 219 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The construction of bases through police-community partnerships is relevant to the accomplishment of national goals,” he said.
Asst Comm Zingizi said the police will ensure the base serves its purpose and urged officers stationed there to work hard to ensure law and order prevail.
He stressed that Vision 2030 is only attainable if there is peace in communities, as crime is counterproductive.
Speaking at the same event, Gwanda Tshitaudze legislator, Hon Moyo, a major contributor to the project, said the fight against crime requires collaborative effort.
“In July last year, we came to this site for a second ground-breaking ceremony, which marked the start of this project. This followed several previous attempts to build this base. As one of the stakeholders involved in making this project a success, my target was to ensure its timely completion, and I am glad that we are gathered here today to commission this base.
“I hope that this police base will go a long way in fighting crime in Wards 8 and 9. As a community, let’s work together with the police who will be deployed here, as they are here to serve us. Let’s refrain from protecting criminals, as they hinder development,” he said.
Gwanda Mayor, Alderman Thulani Moyo, said that for the mining town to record significant development, various stakeholders need to work together.
He said the council would continue to make land available to ensure a police base is established within every five-kilometre radius and urged the police to ensure the base serves its purpose, which is to reduce crime.
Business community representative, Mr Moses Nkomo, said stakeholders recognise the difficulty of living in peace without police presence.
“We thank the police for the work they are doing in our community. As a business community, we saw it prudent to play our part in ensuring an improved police presence within the community where we operate,” he said.
Gwanda District Crime Liaison Committee chairperson, Mr Bekezela Sibanda, said the upsurge in criminal activities was destroying the lives of young people.
