Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo
Zimpapers Reporter
SILOBELA area, in the Midlands Province, has been flagged as a hot spot for crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and stock theft, with 1 292 criminal cases being recorded from January to September, up from 1 010 recorded during the same period last year.
The area, which is home to thousands of artisanal miners according to Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube, has bullies known as Mabhuru, whom he said need to be brought to book to curb the surge in criminal activities.
The minister said this while officiating during the recent Midlands Province Crime Awareness Campaign held at Cross Roads Business Centre in Silobela.
“Regrettably, I am advised that prevalent crimes in the Midlands Province in general and Silobela in particular include murder, assaults, armed robbery, drugs and substance abuse, domestic violence, rape and stock theft, hence the choice of this hotspot crime awareness campaign where perpetrators are known as Mabhuru,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the event resonates with President Mnangagwa’s recent State of the Nation Address made during the official opening of the third session of the tenth Parliament where he underscored the need for discipline, sustained peace and tranquility as well as national focus on entrenching the current economic stability and growth in our march towards the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030.
As such, he said Section 219 Subsection 1 of the Constitution provides for the Police Service and its functions, which include detecting, investigating and preventing crime, preserving internal security and maintaining law and order in Zimbabwe, among others.
“In view of the foregoing, I extend my profound appreciation to President Mnangagwa for spearheaded support systems that enhance the smooth operations of the ZRP which include provision of service vehicles to all stations including in the province, drilling of boreholes in camps and rural police stations to enhance water and sanitation, training and development to capacitate members of the force, supply of food rations to all our stations in the province among many others,” said Minister Ncube.
He commended the Midlands community for establishing a network of crime detection and reaction groups, which include Crime Liaison Committees, Business Against Crime, Anti-Stock Theft Committees, Neighbourhood Watch Committees, and the Christian Community Police Network, ZRP WhatsApp platform (0712 800 197), Junior Call Program and House under Supervision Scheme among others.
Minister Ncube said drug and substance abuse remains one of the prominent drivers of violent crimes in communities.
“ I commend our Police Force in the Province led by Commissioner Nyabadza for accounting for robberies, murder cases, perpetrators of domestic violence, rape, stock theft, illegal mining, drug and substance abuse,” he said.
In this regard, Minister Ncube said the Midlands Province leads with 78 known drug bases dismantled and 434 drug peddlers arrested and their contraband consisting of mbanje, ganja cakes, bronco, zvimbwa, and crystal meth confiscated.
“I therefore warn all those engaged in drug peddling that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them,” he said.
“I applaud the efficient and effective High Court sessions which cleared most outstanding cases and handed down deterrent sentences ranging from a minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment for heinous and atrocious crimes such as murder.”
He said violence tarnishes the image of the province and undermines efforts to attract tourism, trade and investment at a time when the leadership has been mandated to modernise, industrialise and grow the Provincial Gross Domestic Product underpinned by the devolution and decentralisation agenda.
“This is the opportune time to harness our comparative advantage in law-abiding human capital and abundant natural resources to advance President Mnangagwa’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030 guided by the mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa, igotongwa, igonamatirwa nevene vayo’,” he said.
