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Bulawayo – Bulawayo North Member of Parliament Minenhle Gumede has urgently appealed to the government to impose a city-wide ban on the public carrying of dangerous weapons, including machetes and axes, following a sharp rise in violent attacks.
In a letter dated May 16, 2025, addressed to Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe, Gumede highlighted escalating threats to public safety, citing over 15 machete-related assaults recorded between April 1 and May 10 across multiple suburbs.
The MP’s plea comes amid heightened anxiety among residents, particularly in high-density areas such as Bulawayo North, Luveve, Cowdray Park, and Mpopoma, where armed gangs have targeted pedestrians and business owners.
Notable incidents include a 17-year-old student critically injured in an axe attack in Ward 6 on April 22 and multiple cases of armed intimidation reported in Wards 2, 5, and 9.
Gumede emphasized that these weapons are not used for agricultural purposes but rather to “intimidate, rob, and injure civilians,” undermining trust in law enforcement.
She urged the Ministry to implement four key measures: a statutory ban on public possession of such weapons in urban areas, increased police patrols and checkpoints in hotspots, community awareness campaigns, and stricter sentencing guidelines.
“Police are struggling to control groups openly wielding machetes, especially during weekends,” Gumede wrote, stressing the need for “swift government intervention to restore the rule of law.”
Ward 2 Councillor Adrian Rendani Moyo endorsed the MP’s proposals, revealing that a prohibition notice against weapons like machetes, axes, and tasers had already been posted at a Queens Park West shop by Chief Superintendent I. Zhou.
However, Moyo stressed the importance of broader enforcement and public education.
“This is about the safety of our residents. If fully enforced, these measures can secure our neighborhoods,” Moyo said, calling for visible action to complement policy.
The appeal underscores growing pressure on authorities to address weaponized crime, with residents demanding heightened police visibility and legislative reforms to curb the violence. Gumede has offered to collaborate with the Ministry and community leaders to coordinate a response.
As attacks persist, the government faces mounting calls to act decisively before the crisis further erodes public confidence in urban security.
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