Bulawayo residents wary of emerging crime hotspots

Bulawayo Office

The residents were constantly terrorized by gangs of three or four looters, who lurked in the branches of the tree and attacked unsuspecting passers-by.

The situation escalated to the point where residents demanded that the Bulawayo City Council cut down the tree, which they eventually succeeded in doing and the area is now free of this crime hotspot.

However, crime rates in other parts of Mpopoma remain high, despite the efforts of neighbourhood watch groups.

The main problem is the lack of street or tower lighting in dark areas, where criminals often operate. Local councillor Donaldson Mabuto called on the local government to install solar powered lights to deter criminals from targeting residents.

“When I took up the position of Ward 9 councillor, the crime rate in Mpopoma was one of the highest in the city. We met with all 15 section heads in the ward and revived all the neighbourhood watch committees. Of the 15 neighbourhood watch committees, only eight are still operational, but their presence has significantly reduced crime in Mpopoma.

“The biggest problem in the fight against crime is that some parts of the suburb do not have street lights or tower lights and those are the areas where criminals operate,” said Clr Mabuto.

Other areas in Bulawayo, such as the Khumalo Flats housing complex, have also become hotspots for robberies, especially on the dusty track that separates Bulawayo-Harare Road from the complex.

Residents who don’t drive board kombis that travel the City-Mahatshula route and alight at a bus stop along Bulawayo-Harare Road, close to the housing estate. A wooded area separates the bus stop from Khumalo Flats, and that’s where the criminals strike.

“This year alone, countless people have been mugged in that bush that separates our housing estate from the Bulawayo-Harare Road, and all the victims stay here.

“The thugs always attack after sunset and simply disappear into the night after stealing handbags, mobile phones or other valuables. Walking from the main road to the housing complex is an invitation to be robbed and we fear that one day the attacks could be fatal, especially if the victim is a man who tries to resist and fight back,” said Ms Letina Sibanda, a resident of Khumalo Flats.

According to a resident, Mr Ndodana Mlambo, other suburbs such as Magwegwe and Pumula East face similar problems, including a violent nightclub and frequent robberies at bus stops.

“Not a single weekend goes by without incidents of youth fighting at Marisha nightclub and we are fed up with the violence. Residents have complained time and again that we do not want the nightclub in our neighbourhood but the authorities do not listen to us,” said Mr Mlambo.

Broken streetlights in the city centre and other business areas of Bulawayo have been turned into off-limits areas by criminals.

“Areas frequented by commercial sex workers are the most dangerous to walk through in the city centre. Street lights have been deliberately broken so that the women can work in the dark, but these areas have also become serious crime hotspots,” said a security guard, Mr Enoch Munashe.

In Pumula East, the popular Ntemba bus stop area is dangerous early in the morning and evening. Many robberies have been recorded this year, but there have also been some arrests.

“We appeal to residents to cooperate with the police as these criminals are mostly known and live among us. The problem of muggings and robberies is serious and requires all hands on deck, from the community to the law enforcement agencies,” said Ward 19 Councillor, Lazarus Mphadwe.

Inspector Abednico Ncube, spokesperson for the Bulawayo provincial police, urged residents to avoid areas with high crime rates, especially at night, as these areas are notorious for attracting criminals who use shortcuts such as dusty paths and undergrowth.