RESIDENTS of Rangemore in Bulawayo have raised alarm over rising crime in the community.
Speaking during a recent meeting between residents and the Zimbabwe Republic Police at Rangemore’s Shiriyekutanga shopping centre, the residents talked of an alarming number of violence, drug abuse, murder and stocktheft cases which are negatively impacting their livelihoods.
Addressing the residents, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged them to work with the police to fight the crimes.
“In Rangemore, we are facing problems of stocktheft as people settle in the area and steal cattle at night. Then we see meat being sold in cars by the corners of the streets. We kindly plead with you not to buy this meat and that cattle sold be transported during the day to avoid stocktheft,” Nyathi said.
He advised the public to be discreet with details of the money in their possession as they risk exposing themselves to thieves.
“From January up to May, we have had 14 stocktheft cases, from last year where we had 17 cases. Here at Rangemore, we should not be silent when one is selling drugs and substances.
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“There are drug bases and we can’t have the officer-in-charge not communicating with residents after 30 days. I’m going to tell the officer-in-charge at Nkulumane [about] this challenge so that after 30 days they meet and discuss with residents,” Nyathi added.
Ward 26 councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, however, said there was need for a police station in the area because the area’s population was growing.
“We are kindly asking the police to assist us with building a police station as the population is growing and has potential to grow even more as it contains houses of up to 3 000,” Moyo said.
“There is also a need for more policemen as we have two policemen at the base and this is affecting us as residents complain of criminals using axes on their doors and there is not enough backup to assist.
“We have also discovered from other reports that people travel far and are even dumping dead bodies at Emganwini as it is a new area and has a lot of bushes around so that’s why we are pleading for a police station.”
Ward 17’s Elizabeth Ndlovu said new residential stands in the area had become hideouts for criminals.
“This has affected us as plenty of thieves come to the new residential stands to hide from the police because they are aware that people here mind their own business,” she said.