ON Tuesday morning, detectives in Bulawayo shot and killed six armed robbery suspects after they pounced on a dealer in his shop.
The robbers had spent the previous day drinking beer and monitoring footfall and transactions at the shop.
The quick response by the security agents is quite commendable, there should be no place for armed robbers in Zimbabwe.
Quite worrying is the number of cases being reported almost daily.
Several cases of armed robbery have been reported, with the law enforcement agents often up to the task of bringing the robbers to book.
Worrisome though are some cases occurring in daylight with no one being caught or brought to justice.
In October last year, six armed men raided a Safeguard Security Services vehicle parked outside Ecobank’s Parkade Centre branch in Bulawayo and made off with between US$4 million and US$5 million.
This heist is one of the largest in Zimbabwe’s history and yet, months later, the robbers are still at large, fuelling public frustration and raising questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement.
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The heist occurred at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Fife Street, just three streets away from the Bulawayo Central Police Station.
What is more disconcerting is how police were late to the party— three streets away and no show?
Even more troubling is the selective application of the law.
There have been numerous instances where the police seem to act with haste and aggression against ordinary citizens, yet they fail to respond effectively to high-profile criminal cases.
A recent example involve the unwarranted actions of law enforcement agents against Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) senior reporter, Blessed Mhlanga.
Armed officers from the Law and Order unit, visited HStv, a division of Alpha Media Holdings offices, in search of Mhlanga, raising questions about the necessity of carrying firearms when pursuing an unarmed civilian.
Mhlanga has now spent 24 days in prison, while the armed robbers responsible for the Ecobank heist remain scot free.
The rise in armed robberies in Zimbabwe has become cause for concern, amid a surge in violent crimes that appear to be increasingly brazen and well-organised.
Despite the shocking scale of the Ecobank robbery, there has been little progress in bringing perpetrators to book.
The fact that armed robbers executed such a daring feat in broad daylight and evaded arrest is deeply concerning.
The rise in armed robberies across Zimbabwe is not an isolated incident.
The frequency serious crimes seem to be escalating, with reports of robberies emerging almost daily.
From banks to small businesses, no one is safe, and the sense of insecurity is palpable.
Public confidence in the justice system is rapidly being eroded as it becomes apparent that law enforcement is struggling to keep pace with the growing threat.
Lack of progress in solving the Ecobank case is a glaring example of the systemic failure that is plaguing the country’s law enforcement agencies.
How is it possible for heavily armed criminals to raid a high-profile target with impunity, while citizens, including reporters, are subjected to disproportionate application of the law?
We are left wondering why there is such a stark disparity in the manner cases are handled.
Citizens expect a justice system that applies the law equally, without bias, but this pattern of selective enforcement deepens public distrust.
Zimbabwe’s law enforcement agencies must confront this disturbing trend head-on.
There is a growing perception that high-profile criminals are operating with impunity, while ordinary citizens face stringent scrutiny.
This not only undermines public confidence in the police but also emboldens criminals, who continue to prey on businesses and communities.
Government and the police must take swift action to address these issues, ensure fair treatment of all, and work to restore public faith in the justice system.
Armed robbers should not be allowed to roam the streets, and the law must be applied fairly and consistently, without fear or favour.
