adminRichard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
LUSHONKWE villagers in Gwanda North have teamed up to build a police base as a way of fighting an increase in criminal activities blamed on gold panners in the area.
This was revealed by Ward 9 secretary, Ms Angeline Mpofu, during a tour of the project by the constituency’s MP, Cde Madodana Sibanda at a launch of the Food for Assets Programme at Lushonkwe Business Centre on Wednesday.
Ms Mpofu said the high concentration of gold panners in the area has led to an increase in housebreakings in the area which warranted having a police base close by.
“We’re losing our property nearly every day as thieves break into our houses and steal. We felt as a community that to reduce the crime rate we should build a police base here at Lushonkwe Business Centre,” she said.
“We’re being helped by a Mine which is in our area. It has donated quarry stones while villagers are the ones bringing bricks from their homesteads so that the project is completed fast. As of now we’ve completed digging the foundation and two toilets pits.”
The councillor for the area, Mr Mozitha Moyo, said the police base was a temporary structure as they intended to build a bigger police station.“This base has an office which will work as the Charge Office and two residential rooms. Funds permitting we’re going to build a bigger police station to service our area,” said Mr Moyo.
He said they had also finished constructing a community hall which was only left with roofing which will be used for social activities and meetings.
“We used to conduct our meetings in the open but we’ve finished constructing our community hall with the help of the Gwanda Community Ownership Trust. We’re only left with roofing and the trusses are already there in Bulawayo waiting to be transported to this place,” Mr Moyo said.
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