Byo crime wave needs urgent action

Obituaries
THE crime wave that has gripped Bulawayo in recent times is a cause of concern, with the inaction or helplessness of the authorities in dealing with the spate of deadly robberies even more shocking. Such is the wave of gang robberies in Zimbabwe’s second city that it has become risky just to have a running […]

THE crime wave that has gripped Bulawayo in recent times is a cause of concern, with the inaction or helplessness of the authorities in dealing with the spate of deadly robberies even more shocking.

Such is the wave of gang robberies in Zimbabwe’s second city that it has become risky just to have a running business. The shooting of a petrol attendant by armed robbers at a garage in Tshabalala last Friday is the latest in a series of violent robberies.

The manner in which the latest robbery was committed just mocked the entire security system. The robbers walked to the garage, and after a struggle with the attendants and shooting one of them who was trying to close the door on them, stormed the office and grabbed US$1 850 they found on the table. They then trotted away and jumped into a vehicle parked on the nearby Nketa Drive. During all this melee, there was no police or security guard in sight.

It is hardly surprising as last week Officer Commanding Bulawayo province Assistant Commissioner Patton Mbangwa told business leaders at a meeting that the police force only had only six vehicles to service an entire city of 650 000 people.

This means even if they wanted to react to the robbery, there was no vehicle for the crime fighters to make their way to the scene. And the thieves know it, so they are taking advantage of the situation.

“The organisation is seriously underfunded in terms of resources. We only have a vehicle each for Queens Park, Luveve, Entumbane, Bulawayo Central (Ford Ranger), Mzilikazi (Ford Ranger) and Magwegwe,” the Assistant Commissioner said.

“All these Mazda B18s … have had their better days on the roads. The reliable Queens Park vehicle is covering the whole Suburban District. When you make a report, that vehicle might be somewhere on another assignment. That’s the truth of the matter, our bosses and government are aware of this.”

This speaks to the heart of the problem: That government is prioritising availing new vehicles for traditional leaders while the police cannot keep the citizenry safe. We dare say the fertile ground for the rise in criminality has been cultivated by the failure by government to properly equip the police and other law enforcement agents.

Then there is the joke that is private security companies. According to Assistant Commissioner Mbangwa, the private security firms are using toy guns to scare away criminals. This is plain ridiculous and it’s no wonder their guards hardly put up a fight when robbers show up.

Assistant Commissioner Mbangwa last week told journalists that most private security companies were inadequately armed to fight criminals.

Most of the robberies have seen private security guards being brushed aside like they are a minor inconvenience such as a mosquito on the nose. Of course, they cannot afford to resist when they know that all they are packing are toy guns.

This disgrace needs to stop, and government must prioritise equipping the police. Being open for business also means being able to protect those investments that we have been entrusted with as a country.