Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A WELL-ORCHESTRATED syndicate that is stealing solar panels from both home and key infrastructure that includes clinics has been giving villagers in Beitbridge a headache with calls for communities, traditional leaders and the police to collaborate in fighting crime.
Since the beginning of last year, thieves targeting solar panels and related accessories have hit Swereki, Lilombe, Mapili and Chamnangana clinics. In an interview, Beitbridge West legislator, Cde Ruth Maboyi said the thefts had reached alarming levels.
She said the communities should work with the police to revive the Neighbourhood Watch Committees to minimise crime in the area.
Cde Maboyi said traditional leaders should also impress upon their subjects the dangers associated with vandalising key social amenities within their communities. According to the legislator the thefts have reportedly worsened the shortage of primary health care facilities in the district.
“We have a serious problem of thefts of solar panels from clinics and villager’s homes. We believe the thieves are operating a syndicate because they are attacking several homes on a single day. My appeal to the community and the police is that they need to work together in dealing with this crime. It is sad to note that most clinics are now without solar panels which are being stolen. The continued theft of equipment in some areas is not helping our situation. In addition, the police should deal decisively with these criminals and those who harbour them in their homes.”
She added; “If we don’t look after this equipment, we have ourselves to blame when we have a poor health delivery service.”
The legislator said she will engage the local police and officials at the Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) to find a lasting solution to thefts and vandalism around the district’s key infrastructures. The district has a shortage of 16 clinics and the few that are there are either without drugs or understaffed or inaccessible by many villagers.
Further, in places where power supplies have been tempered with, nursing staff has been resorted to moving vaccines that need refrigeration to the main hospital in Beitbridge. Beitbridge District has an estimated population of 250 000 people, with two-thirds living in rural areas where some are walking long distances to access health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, people must not walk for more than eight kilometres to access primary health care services.
Online Reporter