THE arrest of seven suspects, who had been terrorising residents in several towns in
Mashonaland West, is a welcome development.
The law enforcement agencies deserve commendation for a job well done.
The gang had gone on spree between10-23, January committing crimes that include rape, armed
robbery and breaking in and unlawful entry.
The criminals stole goods running into thousands of dollars and left behind communities
traumatised and with a sense of insecurity.
There is now need for the law to take its course and the courts to give deterrent sentences and not
just a slap on the wrist for the offenders.
As pointed out by one of the residents and business owner, they are really afraid that these
criminals will not get long sentences and will be back on the streets in no time, continuing with
their reign of terror.
These criminals should get long sentences that will remove them from society so that they take a
long hard look at their actions and see how they have affected other people.
It is hoped that the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services will play its part in
rehabilitating these criminals so that they come out reformed and productive members of society.
The local police did outstanding work and did not take long in putting the gang’s reign of terror
to an end in a short space of time.
Police should always work as decisively as they did in putting bad apples behind bars in the
shortest possible time.
In Chinhoyi and indeed other towns there are areas where thieves are terrorising residents and
some of the thieves have even become so bold to the extent of even mugging and stealing from
people in broad daylight, with the police seemingly helpless to do anything about it.
There are areas in Chinhoyi where one cannot walk after 6pm for fear of being mugged. The
thieves have become so bold because of the inaction by the police.
We hope this is a thing of the past and the police will this year go all out to apprehend all
criminals as they rid the province of criminal elements.
The criminals must indeed become uncomfortable and stop their criminal activities or else end
up behind bars, should they undertake to pursue the life of criminal activities.
The police should do more in combating crime in the province and should shy away from getting
bribes on the instead invest all their energies in fighting crime.
They should have more patrols at night so that criminals know that they will be caught if they try
anything at night.
People need to feel safe in their homes and in the streets. It is the police’s duty to ensure that no
criminal activities take place. Should the criminals dare to commit any crime, the police will be
on top of the situation in no time.
This case has also taught us that one should never reveal financial information, even to relatives
and close friends as the gang made use of such information from relatives to rob the victims.
The police should continue to work tireless to catch the two remaining members of the gang. We
urge family, neighbours and the community to give them up to the police so that they face the
music for their crimes.
