The Sunday News
MASVINGO Province recorded 59 murder cases in 2013, a 10 percent increase from the previous year’s 49 cases with Masvingo West District topping the list, Officer Commanding Masvingo Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Martha Mofolo has said.
Addressing communities during a murder awareness campaign at Chivi Growth Point last week, Snr Asst Comm Mofolo expressed concern over the ever increasing number of murder cases throughout Masvingo Province and called on communities to join hands with police in avoiding fights as this has proved to be a major source of murder.
She said areas that are most affected comprise Chivi, Mwenezi, Ngundu and Mashava which are under Masvingo West policing district. “Our research, as police, has shown that in 2012, 49 people were murdered and that figure rose to 59 in 2013. This year alone, from January to September the province has so far accounted for 36 murder cases and we do not know how many murder cases will be recorded by year end,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Mofolo said a number of murder cases emanate from domestic violence, debts, beer drink brawls, extra-marital affairs, witchcraft allegations, field boundaries among others.
She urged communities to use all resources at their disposal to find a solution to their disputes ahead of fighting as a number of fights end tragically. “You must desist from fighting because if you fight you may end up killing each other. When you fail to understand each other over any issue, I urge you to seek counselling from elders. Desist from staying in possession of dangerous weapons that include knobkerries, knives, spears and even axes. One will be tempted to use these weapons when he or she is wronged. You should also avoid domestic violence through effective communication as couples. I urge you to respect the laws of the land by not spilling blood in the areas you live,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Mofolo also took the opportunity to explain how accused persons can be granted bail adding that when a person is given bail it does not mean that he or she has been freed from prison.
“Let me advise members of the public that when you see a murder suspect back in the community, he would have been granted bail. Under these circumstances, the courts would have been convinced that the accused won’t interfere with the State case and would be allowed to attend court from home. As police we are there to ensure that the accused does not violate bail conditions,” she said.
