Residents of Queens Park West in Bulawayo’s Ward 2 are taking matters into their own hands by forming neighbourhood watch committees to protect their community from a recent surge in violent crime.
The initiative has been hailed as a commendable step by Bulawayo North MP Minenhle Gumede, who pledged support for the growing movement.
The decision to establish patrol groups follows a spate of machete and axe-related robberies in the suburb and surrounding areas.
The criminal activities, which had left residents in fear, led to a dramatic breakthrough recently when residents assisted police in tracking down one of the key suspects linked to a gang responsible for over 20 violent robberies.
At a residents’ meeting held on Sunday attended by MP Gumede, locals resolved to form coordinated neighbourhood watch teams that would patrol the suburb alongside police officers. Volunteers from the community are currently undergoing vetting by the police to formalise their roles in the security initiative.
In an interview with CITE, Gumede, visibly impressed, praised the residents’ proactive stance.
“It is very commendable to see residents rising up collectively and filling the gap where the police may be falling short despite their efforts to tackle crime. Taking security into their own hands shows responsibility and care for their families and neighbours,” she said.
“As the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North, I fully support this initiative and want to see these neighbourhood watch committees thrive. Together, we can create a safer environment for all residents.”
The MP said that community safety cannot be left to law enforcement alone in light of resource constraints and called for more citizen involvement as people continued reporting more incidents, meaning more criminals were still on the loose.
“When communities organise and support each other, they become stronger and more resilient. This is the type of leadership we want from citizens, leadership that inspires and empowers,” said Gumede.
The movement which had been in discussion was sparked after a group of Queens Park West residents helped police apprehend a suspect who had been attacking people with machetes in bushy areas.
Following a cellphone robbery along Saucerstown, locals pursued leads that led to a major police operation, resulting in the arrest of eight suspects.
Police identified the gang’s leader as Kurauone Nkomo (46), a second-hand cellphone dealer operating from Makokoba.
The group also included Prince Ngulube (18), Leeroy Sibanda (19), Hardlife Sibanda (27), Brian Ndlovu (23), Nqobile Terrance Ngwenya and others.
“These suspects used machetes and axes to ambush people in secluded places. Thanks to community tip-offs, we were able to track them down,” said acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele at the time of the arrests.
Residents, in their meeting, also resolved to slash grass and clear overgrown bushy areas that criminals had been using to launch surprise attacks on pedestrians, especially schoolchildren.
The meeting also tackled other community safety measures such as street lighting, where residents called for solar-powered lights to be installed, particularly in dark spots.
A task force was assigned to source quotations for lights and emergency whistles, which the residents would contribute towards.
It was agreed that each household should have a loud whistle to alert neighbours during emergencies while households were also urged to display house numbers clearly and use real names in community WhatsApp groups so people know who was seeking help.
Residents were also urged not to share patrol strategies publicly as not every member in the community was genuine.
Concerns were also raised about wider social issues that may be fuelling the crime wave.
Some residents noted that former school bullies may have grown into hardened criminals, while others pointed to the influx of illegal gold miners, known as amakorokoza, as another source of violent elements in the area.
In response, the MP said the neighbourhood watch programme is a model for other suburbs grappling with similar security issues.
“What residents are doing here is setting an example, not only for Bulawayo North but for the entire city. We know it’s tough to patrol streets at night not knowing the dangers outside and noting that we are in winter but I admire residents for their commitment,” she said.