Matabeleland South provincial police boss Senior Assistant Commissioner Learn Ncube has revealed a worrisome increase in cases of rape against juveniles, urging members of the public to work with the police in fighting crime.
By Own correspondent
Ncube was speaking during the provincial launch of the Client Service Charter at Phakama business centre in Gwanda yesterday. The charter seeks to enhance policing through the involvement of communities.
“Contemporary policing thrives on full community participation and without your participation we are nothing in the fight against crime. Our province has not been performing well in terms of crime, where we have continuously recorded an increase in prevalent crimes that include stock theft, unlawful entry, theft, assault, rape and murder,” he said.
“From January to October 2015 we recorded 8 344 cases compared to 7 847 cases during the same period last year.”
Ncube said Gwanda district had contributed more in terms of crime, with rape cases involving juveniles rising from 44 last year to 104 this year, while stock theft cases had risen to 489 from 414. 635 unlawful entry cases were recorded compared to 512 last year.
Ncube added that the police had scored successes in reducing cases of plain robbery which fell from 243 last year to 158 this year, theft cases from 1 205 to 1 139 while murder cases fell from 40 last year to 26 this year.
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Ncube said community policing initiatives such as the neighbourhood watch committee (NWC) has been at the helm of reducing crime.
He said four NWC members from Mtshabezi had managed to apprehend a rapist who was terrorising villagers and the culprit was currently serving a 45-year jail term.
The police boss also warned rogue police officers saying there was no compromise regarding corruption and the organisation would continue to rid itself of all corrupt elements.
