Toy guns fuel rising robberies in Midlands

A WORRYING trend is gripping communities in the Midlands Province, where criminals are increasingly using fake guns to commit robberies.

The replicas, once regarded as harmless toys or props, now look so real that victims cannot tell them apart from genuine firearms. Police say the surge in these weapons has contributed to rising armed robberies across the province and the country at large.

One such case happened in Kwekwe, when petrol attendant Mrs Maria Muchekeza was robbed of US$2 000 by a masked man wielding what she believed to be a real pistol.

“When they raided my shop, they were holding what looked like a genuine pistol. Only after their arrest was I told it was a replica. In that moment, you can’t tell the difference as it feels real,” she said.

The officer in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Kwekwe, Detective Chief Inspector Samuel Gono, confirmed that fake guns are now a common tool in robberies.

“Several suspects have been arrested in a police crackdown after a spate of robberies where criminals were using fake pistols and pellet guns. We have recovered toy guns, pellet guns, shockers and Colombian knives during the operation,” he said.

Det Chief Insp Gono said the operation, codenamed “No to Illegal Firearms, Dangerous Weapons or Toy Guns”, has also seen police seize dangerous weapons used to commit violent crimes.

Officer Commanding Kwekwe District, Chief Superintendent Ison Chapeta, said the crackdown follows a prohibition order issued on August 14, banning the carrying of dangerous weapons.

“This has led to several arrests of people in connection with armed robberies and grievous bodily harm. We urge communities to work with police in fighting crime. We cannot win this war without public support,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Christopher Ngulube, in charge of administration in Midlands Province, said the crackdown is part of efforts to protect communities in an environment where cash circulation is high due to agriculture and mining activities.
“We have launched this operation to weed out robbers and ensure public safety. We are conducting stop-and-search operations and also working with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to check if firearms are being declared,” he said.

The rise in fake gun crimes comes at a time when Zimbabwe has seen a spate of violent armed robberies, some resulting in deaths, including the recent brutal killing of Harare businessman Mr Joseph Mutangadura, which has renewed debate about gun laws in the country.