Mutare (Pungwe News-New Ziana)-Manicaland police have dismissed as false, reports in some sections of the media that there was an increase in cases of machete wielding gangs terrorizing residents in the province.

In a press statement, deputy provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said the media was exaggerating its reports, as the province had recorded a few cases of robberies and thefts involving the use of machetes.

He said the media was instilling fear in citizens unnecessarily, adding the reports were triggering alarm and despondency.

“Manicaland, however, had been a target of sporadic cases of machete wielding gangs in the final quarter of the year 2019. The robbers were breaking into people`s houses and robbing them of their valuables,” he said.

“The reportage by some media outlets about the frequency of robberies and thefts seem to be exaggerated. There have been some reports in the main stream and social media of an increase in machete wielding gangs terrorizing residents in Manicaland province but in some instances it was not correct,” he added.

Asst Insp Chananda assured the public that the robberies, thefts and unlawful entries had been dealt with accordingly as the police managed to track down the perpetrators and brought them to book.

“It is however, refreshingly assuring that these recent surges of armed criminal activity are very much under control as police has been able to track down and account for the perpetrators in the majority of the cases,” he said.

He implored citizens not to trust every source of information as some were misleading, adding “people should approach the relevant institutions to access proper and verified information.”

“All recording, investigation and management of criminal cases, robberies included, is vested in the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” said Asst Insp Chananda.

New Ziana