Sharon Chigeza
MUTARE — A wave of violent machete and knife attacks, including sexual assault, has plunged Dangamvura into a state of crisis, leaving residents terrified and demanding urgent action from law enforcement.
The recent assault of a 13-year-old schoolgirl has intensified calls for authorities to dismantle the suspected criminal network behind the reign of terror.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed it is intensifying investigations and deploying specialised units to track down suspects who have allegedly turned the suburb’s Sections P and N, along with Areas 12 and 13, into a danger zone.
Once considered a quiet community, Dangamvura has seen a disturbing escalation in violent crime. Official reports indicate at least three major cases have been recorded, including one confirmed rape and two attempted assaults. However, community leaders and residents fear the actual number may be significantly higher, with many incidents going unreported.
“It is alleged that there have been more than seven incidents of this nature in this area in May only, and that is worrisome,” said Ward 8 Councillor Warren Kuudzeyi, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The incident that has sparked the most outrage involved a Form One learner, aged 13, who was sexually assaulted near the Dangamvura Islamic Church last Friday. The attack occurred early in the morning as the girl prepared for school.
Sheikh Juma Yard, the girl’s guardian and chairman of the Dangamvura Islamic Society, said the family was devastated by the incident.
“As a family, we are completely devastated and broken. You ask yourself, what kind of human beings hunt down and destroy a young girl like that with weapons in their hands?” he said.
“We are crying out for justice, but more than that, we want these animals removed from our streets before they destroy another family,” Sheikh Juma added.
In response to the escalating crisis, the ZRP has launched intensified operations aimed at dismantling the suspected syndicates.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that law enforcement is actively engaged in the matter, with deployments made to account for the suspects.
“We urge the public that if they have any information on the suspects’ movement or if it is a syndicate, to come forward and give the police information,” Comm. Nyathi stated.
As the manhunt continues, police have conducted awareness campaigns in Dangamvura, urging residents to remain highly vigilant. Authorities have advised community members to avoid walking alone after dark, utilise well-lit paths, and report any suspicious individuals to the nearest police station.
Local leadership is mobilising neighbourhood watch committees to reinforce security in poorly lit areas, as the community holds out hope for a return to normalcy.
Following the awareness campaign and set up of several neighbourhood watch committees, last weekend the serial rapists terrorising Dangamvura residents were spotted on top of Dangamvura mountain.
Though the assailants managed to escape, weapons, ‘muti’, clay pots and cloths were recovered from their suspected base of operations on the mountain.
According to community witnesses the recovery of items pointed to be a suspected ritual gang.
In a separate nationwide operation dubbed “Operation No to Knives in Pockets,” police have intensified stop-and-search exercises to curb the carrying of dangerous weapons in public places. Since its launch on May 9, authorities have made 346 arrests related to the possession of knives, machetes, and catapults.
