By Garikai Mafirakureva
A surge of crimes ranging from stock theft, murder and disappearance of children, to break-ins and unlawful entry has forced the Bikita community to engage police to restore law and order.
Last month the community was shocked by the discovery of the decomposing body of six-year-old Mitchell Musharu, who had gone missing for six days.
Her body was found stashed in a sack that had been thrown into a disused septic tank at Nyika growth point.
Even as the community was still struggling to come to terms with this horror, two other six-year-old children from Hozvi and Bengura schools, went missing as well.
They were yet to be found at the time of going to print.
Barely a week later, police, with the assistance of the community, busted what could easily be the biggest cattle rustling syndicate in Zimbabwe to date.
Over 300 cattle, mostly heifers, were recovered within a short space of time and as investigations intensified with suspects helping locate more stolen beasts, an unconfirmed 500 head of cattle had been found.
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Bikita Business Association chairperson Charles Musimiki said the community leadership felt the situation was so dire that it needed urgent intervention.
They sent representatives to the local Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is based in Zaka to present their case.
They made a formal request to have a CID base established as a matter of urgency at Nyika growth point or in Duma residential area.
They also requested the Bikita Rural District Council to provide space for the construction of the base.
However, according to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) website, the province polices an area of 56 566 square kilometres with a population of about 1 486 604 basing on the 2012 census.
The province is divided into four operational districts, namely Masvingo Central, East, West and Chiredzi.
There is one CID district which covers the whole province.
There are 21 duty uniform stations, six CID stations, three national traffic stations and one border control and minerals unit station.
Most of the stations are situated in a rural environment.
“As Bikita Business Association, we are concerned with the increase in the crime rate,” Musimiki said.
“We had to approach Zaka because we noted that Bikita CID operations are being executed from Zaka police station.
“This inevitably leaves Bikita district vulnerable to crime.
“What’s needed therefore is for us to identify office space for CID to be based and operate from.
“Any proposals for office space and working desks will be sincerely appreciated.
“We have a responsibility as a community to add value to our police security system in as much as we can.”
Masvingo ZRP provincial spokesperson Kudakwashe Dewa said he was yet to receive information pertaining to the meeting.
