Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
POLICE have increased patrols and visibility in Mabelreign and Marlborough following an increase in criminal activities, especially armed robberies, as law enforcement agencies urge residents to report any suspicious movements in and around the city.
This comes as robbers have been targeting churches and schools in and around the area.
In an interview, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police assures the residents in Mabelreign and Marlborough suburbs, Harare, that comprehensive deployments have been effected immediately to curtail robbery and other criminal acts.
“In this regard, the police urge residents to cooperate with police by reporting any suspicious movements, unknown people roaming aimlessly or seated on road culverts or drainage..
“This includes suspicious vehicles, either parked or moving in the area, whether displaying registration plates or not.
“The public should feel free to report suspicious movements or criminal acts on the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, Harare Operations on (0242) 748836, Support Unit Reaction Team on 0714 336 924 or WhatsApp on 0712 800 197.”
Meanwhile, the police have appealed to residents and Harare City Council authorities to install street lights, flood lights, and burglar bars at windows or doors at their premises.
“Anyone intending to visit relatives late at night should give prior notice where possible. It is in the interest of local residents to know the local police’s contact number and neighbours for swift mobilisation of emergency services and the Police,” Comm Nyathi said.
This follows the death of a security guard at Hallingbury Primary School in a robbery incident between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Commissioner Nyathi said they were investigating the robbery incidents at Hallingbury Primary School and Marlborough High School.
He, however, urged the people in the affected communities to be responsible with the information they are circulating.
“We are investigating those two cases, and we will be issuing a detailed statement in due course. In the meantime, we just urge the communities to be responsible with whatever information they are circulating. Police have made adequate deployment in the affected areas,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
One security guard was killed by three-armed robbers at Hallingbury Primary School and the suspects are being linked with a raid at Marlborough High School.
The two government schools are about 6km apart.
The security guard, Kona Mandlenkosi, was allegedly attacked by the robbers who were holding crowbars.
They allegedly assaulted him and struck him with half bricks on the head. He sustained a deep cut on the head above the left ear and was rushed to a nearby private emergency hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to the injuries.
He was 27.
Another guard at the school managed to escape to a nearby bushy area within the school yard upon seeing that his colleague was being attacked.
He sustained injuries on his right palm and the back of his left shoulder after running into the bushy area of the school.
In another related case, four-armed robbers pounced at Marlborough High School the same day.
They failed to break the safe and then held two security guards, tied their hands and legs with some wires.
The robbers searched the guards and went away with their cellphones and money amounting to US$28.
