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Police crack down on unruly schoolchildren

Police in Bulawayo have raised an alarm over unruly schoolchildren who allegedly loiter around the Egodini taxi rank, engaging in illicit activities instead of heading home after school.

On Friday afternoon, the police convened a meeting at Egodini with several stakeholders from the education sector, transport sector, and local authority to address the issue.

Bulawayo Deputy Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, reprimanded the schoolchildren for their unacceptable behavior and issued a stern warning that any child found engaging in misconduct would be arrested.

A rank marshal, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity, stated that schoolchildren are becoming a menace at the rank, as they frequently engage in fights and intoxicate themselves with alcohol and other substances.

The marshal revealed that despite repeated attempts to discipline the children, their efforts have been in vain, as the schoolchildren remain unyielding.

โ€œTheir behaviour is deeply concerning. When we look at them, we see our own children. We try to correct them, but they are too stubborn. They simply loiter around, refusing to board kombis that are ready to depart,โ€ the marshal said.

โ€œSome lie, claiming to have lost their transport money, saying they are waiting for someone to give them bus fare. Others engage in fights, while some are seen kissing.

โ€œWe have tried numerous times to scare them off, but they refuse to listen. They are drawn to these loud, unregistered kombis, where they abuse substances and engage in illicit activities. Itโ€™s truly heartbreaking.โ€

Assistant Inspector Msebele stated that the police have received numerous reports, particularly of schoolchildren fighting at the rank gates and lingering around instead of going home.

โ€œWe have received countless reports about schoolchildren fighting here at Egodini. They roam around the entrance gates, smoking, drinking, and engaging in various illicit activities. It baffles us who sells alcohol to these children, given that they are underage,โ€ she said.

โ€œWe want to emphasise, as the police, that whenever schoolchildren come here, they must board their transport and go home, not loiter around. We have engaged various stakeholders from the education sector, transport industry, and the city council to address this issue.โ€

Addressing the vendors operating at the rank, she urged them to refrain from selling intoxicating substances to schoolchildren.

โ€œWe have heard that some of you sell drugs to these children. You may be able to hide it from the police, but what kind of parent does that make you? You are destroying someoneโ€™s childโ€™s future. Let us act responsibly!โ€

โ€œWe have resolved that we do not want to see schoolchildren standing aimlessly along the Rosscamp border fence or anywhere along this road toward 6th Avenue. The most problematic schools are Gifford, Milton, and Evelyn. We do not want to see their students loitering.โ€

Assistant Inspector Msebele highlighted the dangers of such behaviour, citing a case last year involving a Founders High School student who died in a bullying incident.

โ€œLast year, we had a case where a child died due to bullying and fighting in schools. We want to avoid similar tragedies. We urge rank marshals to work with us on this matter. Children finish school around 1 PM, but you find them in town at 3 PM or 4 PM, roaming around Egodini,โ€ she said.

She further warned kombi operators against forming inappropriate relationships with schoolchildren.

โ€œThere are allegations that some drivers and conductors sit with schoolchildren in their kombis. What would happen if a girl accuses you of rape? Let us all conduct ourselves appropriately. You do not want to leave your children or families suffering because of an illegal affair with an underage child.โ€

Tanaka Mrewa

Tanaka Mrewa is a journalist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with eight years of experience in the media industry. Her expertise extends to crafting hard news, features, and investigative stories, with a primary focus on politics, elections, human rights, climate change, gender issues, service delivery, corruption, and health. In addition to her writing skills, she is proficient in video filming and editing, enabling her to create documentaries. Tanaka is also involved in fact-check story production and podcasting.

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