The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu and Fairness Moyana
POLICE in Bulilima-Mangwe and Beitbridge have banned the use of dangerous weapons in public for the next three months as part of efforts to curb crimes in the border districts.
The order became effective on 17 March in Beitbridge while it commenced on Wednesday last week in Bulilima-Mangwe.
Similar bans have been effected in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Gwanda.
Acting Officer Commanding Police in Bulilima-Mangwe District Superintendent Lucas Sibanda, said most of the crimes involving dangerous weapons were being committed by border jumpers. He said police officers have been deployed to conduct intensive foot, cycle and motorised patrols, random stop and search operations that will run for the next three months.
“People are banned from carrying or displaying dangerous weapons from 22 March to 22 June. These weapons are namely knifes, catapults, machetes, daggers, axes, knobkerries and swords. This doesn’t mean that after this period people are free to carry these weapons. We will continue with these patrols in order to make sure that we minimise crime in our area,” he said.
Supt Sibanda said the order had been necessitated by prevailing crimes of rape, murder, assault, theft, robbery, unlawful entry and theft. He said the crimes were prevalent in Madlambuzi and Mphoengs policing area which were close to points of entry from Botswana.
“In the period from January to February 2017 unlawful entry and theft cases have been the most dominant crimes with 56 cases being recorded followed by assault with 42 cases and theft with 41 cases. We have also recorded 11 rape cases and four robberies during the period. Up to date we have recorded two murder cases and one armed robbery. Our patrols will be intensified within residential areas, drinking places, institutions as well as along the border line among other places,” he said.
Supt Sibanda said of the two murder cases that were recorded in Bulilima-Mangwe, the perpetrators used dangerous weapons to attack their victims. He said any person found with a banned weapon during the period will be charged.
Bulilima-Mangwe policing area covers Plumtree Town, Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo districts. Acting Officer Commanding police in Beitbridge District, Superintendent Elvis Nekati, said the ban against carrying dangerous weapons stretched from 17 March to 17 June 2017. Last year, police in Bulawayo province issues a similar ban which expired in November following illegal protests in the city. The ban of dangerous weapons has been made under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland North province have extended the ban on the carrying of dangerous weapons in public to Hwange and Binga districts in response to an upsurge in murders that have been committed in the districts as a result of these.
The initial ban which was targeting Umguza and Tsholotsho districts has since been moved to cover Matabeleland South province as well.
The development comes in the backdrop of two murders that recently took place in Hwange district involving a Dete man who was hacked to death with a machete by a villager following a dispute over beer while a woman was fatally stabbed by her stepson over a row over chickens.
In a statement Officer Commanding Hwange district, Chief Superintendent Newton Mutomba, said police were concerned with incidents of violence related to the use of the items capable of use as weapons hence he was invoking section 14 (1) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA)
“In terms of section 14 (1) of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11:17) I being the Officer Commanding Hwange district and therefore the regulating authority of the area, believe on reasonable grounds that , the carrying in public of public display of any of the following weapons or items capable of use as weapons. Catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, daggers or and traditional weapon whatsoever is likely to occasion public disorder or a breach of peace, hereby issue an order prohibiting the carrying of such weapons in the area or any part for a period not exceeding three months that is from 13 March, 2017 to 13 June 2017,” said Chief Supt Mutomba.
