The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has stepped up its fight against violent crime and drug and substance abuse in Midlands through an intensified community policing campaign targeting residents, businesses, schools and other stakeholders.
Police officers from the ZRP Crime and Traffic Awareness Team conducted a community engagement programme at Makepesi Business Centre in Lower Gweru, where they educated residents on crime prevention measures and encouraged greater cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
The ZRP said the outreach programme was designed to strengthen partnerships between the police and the public in the fight against crime.
“The ZRP Crime and Traffic Awareness Team conducted an engagement with the community at Makepesi Business Centre, Lower Gweru, Midlands Province, in the ongoing fight against murder, rape, domestic violence, stock theft and robbery cases,” the police said.
The police stressed that community participation remains critical in detecting, preventing and reporting criminal activities before they escalate into serious offences.
“During the engagement, officers encouraged residents to report suspicious activities, avoid harbouring criminals and work closely with law enforcement agencies to safeguard lives and property.
"The programme also focused on empowering communities with knowledge on how to protect livestock from theft, respond to cases of domestic violence and support victims of crime,” ZRP said.
In a separate engagement, the awareness team visited Adventist High School, where officers interacted with learners and teachers as part of a nationwide drive to address drug and substance abuse among young people.
- Harare businesswoman turns heat on police CCU over 'bias'
- Letter to my people: Criminals are hiding in plain sight
- 5 Zim cops off to South Sudan
- Crime tech: Technology can eradicate corruption
Keep Reading
“The police officers also engaged school children and teachers at Adventist High School to intensify the country’s effort to curb drug and substance abuse in society.
Drug and substance abuse continues to fuel criminal activities, school dropouts, mental health challenges and other social problems affecting communities,” the police warned.
Officers urged students to resist peer pressure and make responsible decisions, while encouraging teachers and parents to remain vigilant and report cases involving illicit drugs.
ZRP has been conducting nationwide crime awareness campaigns under its community policing framework to tackle violent crime, stock theft, gender-based violence and drug and substance abuse.
The initiatives are aimed at promoting public safety, encouraging crime reporting and strengthening cooperation between communities and the police.
