Zim, SA cops launch joint operation

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The ZRP and their South African counterparts have launched a joint operation codenamed “No to Crime” aimed at reducing crime along the borders of the two countries.

The operation will target murders, robberies, smuggling and theft, drug peddling and shebeen ownership among a host of criminal activities. The Officer Commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri said the police had netted more than 40 criminals around the town and borderline.

“We are worried with the recurrence of crime in our area and hence we have joined forces with our South African counterparts to fight crime,” he said. “You will note that we have a problem of cross border crime where people commit offences in either Musina or Beitbridge towns and skip the border to either country.” He said the operation would tackle crime from both sides.

“The whole idea is to suffocate them and we want to warn the criminals that their days are numbered. We have been inundated with a spate of armed robberies in Beitbridge and as the police we will not stand and watch while the marauding criminals wreak havoc in both countries.” Chief Supt Phiri said during the operation, which started last weekend, they nabbed two wanted criminals — one linked to a murder case .while the other was wanted on a domestic violence charge. He said police had also arrested three people in connection with four armed robberies a fortnight ago.

“We have also recovered one vehicle a Toyota Double cab, 4 000 litres of diesel and 250 tyres which had been smuggled into the country through the Limpopo River. We also rounded up 10 people for dealing in liquor without licenses and six others for drug dealing and recovered 16,3kg of the illicit drugs,” he said. Chief Supt Phiri said the border post and its environs were security zones where they will not allow criminals to roam as they please.

He also warned people to desist from engaging services of conmen or dealers who in most cases end up robbing or harming them. The suspected criminals, Chief Supt Phiri said, are expected to appear in court soon facing various criminal charges. The operation comes a few days after a group or armed robbers descended on Beitbridge town where they are targeting taxi drivers and residents living in the western suburbs. The gang of five among is reported to be moving around with one woman. Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said they had also launched another operation “Vala Madi” (Close Tape Water), which has seen the recovery of 11 stolen vehicles which were being smuggled to Zimbabwe.