Terror in the Shadows: Bulawayo Residents Live in Fear of Machete Gangs
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By Kwedu News
Bulawayo - The streets of Bulawayo have become a battleground, with machete-wielding gangs terrorizing residents in high-density suburbs.
For months, these gangs have been on the loose, leaving a trail of blood and destruction in their wake.
Just last week, reports say three residents from Emakhandeni suburb were ambushed and attacked, with one victim being treated for horrific injuries at Mpilo Hospital.
Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the police Spokesperson, says the total value of property stolen from the victims was US$570, and nothing was recovered.
"Police have launched a manhunt for the machete gangs linked to mushrooming illegal gold mines on the city's outskirts," Msebele said.
Bulawayo City Council has complained about gold panners invading the city, threatening water sources and polluting dams in search of the mineral resource.
These illegal panners have also encroached into the National University of Science and Technology premises and near the Zimbabwe School of Mines.
One Bulawayo resident shared a harrowing account of how he survived an ambush at his family home last week.
"When I heard them trying to break the gate, I immediately called the police, but they were of no help," he said.
"We were rescued by a prominent resident who sent her personal security at the nick of time."
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu advised residents to avoid using footpaths in bushy areas during both day and night.
"Communities should come together and stop this criminality," he said.
Some observers blame drug and substance abuse, poverty and high unemployment rates for driving some suspects into joining machete gang rings.
"The root causes are clear: rising youth unemployment, infiltration by violent criminal gangs, drug and substance abuse, and a weakening of moral and social structures," said Desire Moyo, Nkulumane opposition legislator.
Urging the Zimbabwe Republic Police to intensify patrols and bring perpetrators to book.
Zimbabwe Congress Trade Union western region chairman, Ambrose Sibindi, also blamed unemployment for the rise in machete gangs.
"The bottom line is poverty, people do not know what to do, they are now pushed to do wrong things in the society due to the economic situation," Sibindi said.
Emakhandeni-Luveve opposition legislator Discent Bajila echoed similar sentiments.
"Such acts of violence have no place in our society. They undermine the fabric of our community and instill a pervasive sense of insecurity."
Bajila plans to convene an all-stakeholders conference on crime in the coming weeks.
By Kwedu News
Bulawayo - The streets of Bulawayo have become a battleground, with machete-wielding gangs terrorizing residents in high-density suburbs.
For months, these gangs have been on the loose, leaving a trail of blood and destruction in their wake.
Just last week, reports say three residents from Emakhandeni suburb were ambushed and attacked, with one victim being treated for horrific injuries at Mpilo Hospital.
Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the police Spokesperson, says the total value of property stolen from the victims was US$570, and nothing was recovered.
"Police have launched a manhunt for the machete gangs linked to mushrooming illegal gold mines on the city's outskirts," Msebele said.
Bulawayo City Council has complained about gold panners invading the city, threatening water sources and polluting dams in search of the mineral resource.
These illegal panners have also encroached into the National University of Science and Technology premises and near the Zimbabwe School of Mines.
One Bulawayo resident shared a harrowing account of how he survived an ambush at his family home last week.
"When I heard them trying to break the gate, I immediately called the police, but they were of no help," he said.
"We were rescued by a prominent resident who sent her personal security at the nick of time."
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu advised residents to avoid using footpaths in bushy areas during both day and night.
"Communities should come together and stop this criminality," he said.
Some observers blame drug and substance abuse, poverty and high unemployment rates for driving some suspects into joining machete gang rings.
"The root causes are clear: rising youth unemployment, infiltration by violent criminal gangs, drug and substance abuse, and a weakening of moral and social structures," said Desire Moyo, Nkulumane opposition legislator.
Urging the Zimbabwe Republic Police to intensify patrols and bring perpetrators to book.
Zimbabwe Congress Trade Union western region chairman, Ambrose Sibindi, also blamed unemployment for the rise in machete gangs.
"The bottom line is poverty, people do not know what to do, they are now pushed to do wrong things in the society due to the economic situation," Sibindi said.
Emakhandeni-Luveve opposition legislator Discent Bajila echoed similar sentiments.
"Such acts of violence have no place in our society. They undermine the fabric of our community and instill a pervasive sense of insecurity."
Bajila plans to convene an all-stakeholders conference on crime in the coming weeks.
