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POLICE in Bulawayo yesterday said there were no major criminal activities that were recorded during the just-ended edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). The acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Abedinico Ncube, said this year’s fair saw 15 theft cases being recorded, down from 21 in 2013.
“For us the trade fair was a success. We did not have major criminal activities except theft. We recorded 15 theft cases as compared to 21 cases that were recorded from the previous year,” he said.
Asst Insp Ncube attributed the decrease in criminal activities to a crime analysis that they carried out and the effective execution of duties by the police.
“We made a crime analysis addressing the reasons of the 21 reported cases last year. In the past years we were having a problem with Bulawayo Centre where many youths would convene after the trade fair, so many police officers were deployed in that area,” he said.
Asst Insp Ncube also commended members of the public for conducting themselves well during the exhibition days saying their behaviour also led to a reduction in crimes.
He urged youths to desist from abusing drugs and alcohol and parents and guardians have a role to play in preventing teenagers from abusing alcohol.
“Youths should shun alcoholism because it may have a bearing on their future,” Asst Insp Ncube said.
The ZITF is the city’s busiest business period drawing both local and foreign exhibitors.
In the past, criminals have taken advantage of the fair to engage in a number of unscrupulous activities such as robbing and stealing from the public.
Resultantly, this year the police increased their deployment in the ZITF area to ensure that sanity prevailed.
Online Reporter