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Crime levels in Bulawayo province have seen a significant decrease, attributed to “robust collaboration among stakeholders,” according to the Officer Commanding Bulawayo province, Commissioner Wiklef Makamache. During a media briefing at the Ross Camp, he stated,
“The province registered a three percent decrease in overall crime, with notable reductions in areas such as vehicle theft, fraud, and traffic offences.”
Commissioner Makamache highlighted specific statistics, noting that “vehicle thefts fell slightly, from 53 cases in 2023 to 51 cases in 2024.” He also pointed out that fraud cases have dramatically decreased, saying,
“Fraud cases plummeted by 168 incidents, from 788 in 2023 to 620 this year,” while traffic offences saw a 5 percent reduction, with reported cases declining from 3,709 in 2023 to 3,511 this year. He elaborated on the most common traffic offences, stating,
“The most common offences under traffic are driving without due care and attention, negligence driving, and culpable homicide.”
In addition to these reductions, there was a notable decline in other serious crimes.
“Armed robbery using firearms halved, dropping from 44 cases in 2023 to 22 in 2024,” he reported. He also mentioned the concerning issue of juvenile rape, which fell from 154 cases to 103, a decrease of 51. Furthermore,
“Housebreaking cases decreased by 251 percent, with 2,928 incidents in 2023 reducing to 2,677 in 2024,” he added.
However, Commissioner Makamache expressed concern over an increase in murder cases, stating,
“It’s deeply concerning when innocent lives are lost. Our collective aim must remain a Zero-crime environment,” with 51 cases reported in 2024 compared to 41 the previous year.
He urged residents to play an active role in combating crime and corruption, emphasizing the importance of anti-corruption teams and police intelligence units.
“The public should report any misconduct at police checkpoints and we will take action. The decrease in crime is a testament to what we can achieve. But the fight is ongoing, and we need everyone’s support to make Bulawayo safer,” concluded Commissioner Makamache.
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