Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
BUENA Vista suburb in Bulawayo has come under a frightening wave of robberies, with residents living in terror as daring criminal gangs prowl the neighbourhood at night, breaking into homes, attacking occupants and making off with cash and household property.
The upmarket suburb has, in recent weeks, been turned into a hunting ground for robbers who are striking with increasing organisation and brutality.
Residents say the situation worsened over the past two weeks, with some homes hit more than once by the same gang.
According to residents, the robbers often operate after midnight, cutting security fences, disabling lights and forcing their way into houses while families sleep.
“We are under siege, that is the only way to describe it. These robbers are fearless. They broke into our neighbour’s house around 2AM, demanded money and beat the husband before fleeing,” said a resident who requested anonymity.
In several incidents, residents reported that the criminals appeared to have sophisticated knowledge of the area’s layout, often targeting homes with minimal exterior lighting or isolated properties along the suburb’s boundary.
“Almost everyone here has stopped sleeping properly. We take turns staying awake at night because we hear footsteps, dogs barking, or strange movements outside. We never used to live like this,” said another resident.
Some robberies have resulted in injuries, with two residents reportedly attacked with iron bars after resisting.
In one case, a family was held hostage while the gang ransacked the house. Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said police have only received one report of a case from the neighbourhood, where robbers made off with four bicycles.
“Police have only received a report of an isolated incident, where two bicycles out of four that were stolen have been recovered. We have not been made aware of other incidents,” she said.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, last week, during an interaction with journalists in Bulawayo, stated that the city had recorded a 38 percent decrease in crime, despite an increase in armed robberies.
“Police have intensified patrols and launched investigations into the city’s known hot spots. We urge residents to ensure their homes are secured, avoid keeping large sums of cash and promptly report any suspicious vehicles or individuals. As police, we are committed to bringing the perpetrators to book,” he said.
Meanwhile, local neighbourhood watch teams said they will be increasing visible patrols, working with residents to gather information and alert authorities when threats arise.
They called for the installation of more streetlights and cameras in dark spots. Bulawayo has recently witnessed a spike in robberies across several suburbs, with police linking some of the attacks to organised criminal syndicates targeting affluent areas.
Residents of Buena Vista say they are praying for swift action before the situation escalates into something more tragic.
“This is no longer an ordinary crime. These people are organised, violent and determined. We need strong police intervention before someone gets killed,” said a resident.
