adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Combined Beitbridge Business and Residents Association has called on police to increase visibility and patrols in the border town and highways leading to Harare and Bulawayo to curb violent crime.The call comes at a time when a local businessman was fatally struck with an axe seven times by three unknown assailants who broke into his house near caravan park on Wednesday evening.
Three weeks ago an illegal foreign currency dealer was also shot and killed by two unknown men who waylaid him as he entered his house in the new medium density suburb. The criminals got away with R2,000.
Fanuel Mulaudzi, a renowned cattle farmer who also owned a fleet of commuter omnibuses, a bottle store and butchery, was attacked by three men, two of whom were wearing masks.
Police said the suspects were still at large.
The men tied up Mulaudzi’s two children and locked them in a spare bedroom. They waited for over three hours for Mulaudzi to arrive.
His sister, Thinamano said her brother was attacked as soon as he entered the house. She said the criminals fled from the scene in his Toyota Land Cruiser which they later abandoned near a dumpsite.
They also took his firearm and two cellphones which have not been recovered.
Chairman of the Business Association, Nkululeko Milidi, said the level of violent crime in the town was alarming.
“We no longer feel safe both at our workplaces and homes. We’re calling on the police to increase visibility and night patrols. It’s worrying to lose two people to violent crime inside three weeks and our greatest fear is that these are still roaming around,” he said.
Milidi said the business community was prepared to work with the police in crime prevention programmes.
Residents Association chairman, Lawrence Tshili, said the police should consider reviving the neighbourhood watch committees which used to help fight crime in the border town in the past.
He said residents were concerned at the rate at which people were being attacked in their homes or along the major highways by armed robbers.
“The crime situation is a serious cause for concern,” Tshili said.
Beitbridge chairman for the crime consultative committee, Willard Mateveke, said they were engaging police over the issue of violent crimes.
“Let’s work together as a community and the police in curbing violent crimes. We’re also calling on members of the public who might have information on the identity or whereabouts of the suspects to contact the police as soon as possible,” he said.
Online Reporter