THE police have reportedly abandoned a base in Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo, leaving residents of the sprawling suburb at the mercy of criminals. BENSON DUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
The police base was situated at a stand owned by a private contractor, who has since repossessed his property, with the cops being pushed out.
A resident, Dumisani Ncube, speculated that the police may not have been paying rentals to the owner of the property leading to their being kicked out.
The councillor for the area, Colet Ndlovu said the police had reverted to operating from Luveve, after Glendenning Construction Company repossessed its stand.
“The police left the base last week,” he confirmed. “I hope they will mount a tent at a place they were allocated land, since we are nearing the festive season.
“We have two sites for the police, one is around Garikayi Hlalani Kuhle Phase 2 and the second is near Hawk Flight, next to the sign post area.”
Ndlovu said Cowdray Park needed its own police station, as it was a big suburb, with many households yet to be electrified, leaving them prone to crime.
“Cowdray Park is big and has many houses that are yet to be electrified and once thugs discover that there is no longer a police base, crime will increase in the suburb,” he said.
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“The members of the ZRP will have to pitch a tent because they have sites for the camp, but the government is failing to build any structure because of the economic problems.”
The councillor said residents may have to contribute to the construction of a police station.
Police Superintendent Desmond Dube, commanding officer Nkulumane district under which Cowdray Park suburb falls, however, said they still maintained a post in the suburb, with the cops being in good books with the owner of the stand where the base was situated.
“The police base in Cowdray Park was never moved and we are in good books with Glendenning,” he said.
“You will never know with politicians, they say anything.”
