BULAWAYO recorded a 5% decrease in crime in 2012 compared to the previous year, a senior police officer said last week.
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The crime rate also went down by 16% between January and April this year, in comparison to the same period last year. Officer Commanding Bulawayo senior assistant commissioner, Stephen Mutamba said a total of 26 422 cases were recorded in 2012 compared to 27 727 in 2011.
“For the period January to April this year, we have recorded a total of 4 151 reported cases compared to 4 964 cases in the same period last year, indicating a 16% reduction in crime,” he said.
Mutamba however, said despite the decrease the police were still concerned with the high prevalence of crime in Bulawayo and urged members of the public to assist them in eradicating it.
“We still experience such cases that include theft of cars, unlawful entry, robbery and rape,” he said. “So far this year we have recorded a total of 1 324 cases of unlawful entry into premises and theft compared to 1 326 in the same period last year.”
Mutamba warned the public to desist from acts of political violence ahead of elections penciled for July saying that the police would deal with offenders without fear or favour.
The Constitutional Court last week ordered Mugabe to proclaim elections dates and have the polls held by July 31 this year. “The police in Bulawayo have prepared well for the challenges likely to be posed by the impending national elections as political parties are likely to increase their campaigns.
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“No political violence, whether inter-party or intra-party, will be tolerated,” said Mutamba.
He said Bulawayo had recorded few cases of political violence and urged members of the public to be conversant with electoral laws ahead of the polls.
“No breach of electoral laws will be tolerated. Bulawayo has been very quiet in terms of political violence and I would like to encourage people to maintain that atmosphere. Those in the political arena are urged to be conversant with the relevant electoral laws as ignorance of the law is no defence,” he said.
