Zim GBC News | Gender and Community
Zimbabwe has recorded a significant 3.5 percent surge in crime during the second quarter of 2025, according to official data released by the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT).
The latest figures, covering April to June 2025, show that police registered 321,640 criminal offences, a worrying increase from the 310,876 cases recorded in the first quarter of the year.
Presenting the report, ZIMSTAT social statistics manager, Tinashe Mwadiwa, said the rise has pushed the national crime rate to 2,119 offences per 100,000 people, up from 2,048.1 per 100,000 in the previous period.
“Most provinces experienced higher crime levels, with the steepest increases reported in Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, and Manicaland,” Mwadiwa stated.
The data reveals a troubling picture across various crime categories. The ‘Public Safety and State Security’ category accounted for the bulk of the offences, with 177,909 cases recorded—a rate of 1,172.1 per 100,000 population.
Violent crimes were highlighted as a particular concern. Police documented 271 cases of intentional homicide, translating to a rate of 1.8 per 100,000 people. Assaults and threats were the most common violent offences, with a high rate of 173.7 per 100,000.
Property crimes also remained prevalent, with 35,911 theft cases recorded nationwide, a rate of 236.6 per 100,000. The economic sector was not spared, with 2,684 fraud cases and 55 incidents of forgery or counterfeiting reported.
Other key findings from the report include 2,533 drug-related offences and 5,102 cases against public order. Alarmingly, sexual violence remains a persistent challenge, with 3,248 cases reported in the quarter, representing a rate of 21.4 per 100,000 population.
Non-injurious traffic violations continued to dominate the overall statistics, with 191,997 offences recorded—a staggering rate of 1,264.9 per 100,000.
Authorities say the data underscores an urgent need for strengthened community policing, public awareness campaigns, and tougher enforcement measures to curb the rising tide of offences across the country.
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