U.K-based Zimbabwean Public Safety Advocacy Agency Launched

Due to the increase in the spate of muggings in and around Harare recently, Citizen Concern Bureau of Zimbabwe has been launched as of today, to spearhead Public Safety Campaigns to raise public awareness about this dangerously growing trend.

WHO WE ARE

Citizen Concern Bureau of Zimbabwe (CCBZ), is a Non-Governmental, Non-Political, Non-Profit and Charitable Organisation, primarily concerned with the preservation of the sanctity of life through Public Safety Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns.

Our work is a voluntary public service undertaking for and on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. However, it must be stressed that our organisation is not in any way a protest movement.
We wish to be absolved from all political connections and agendas in all our endeavours and ask that all our stakeholders and partners be aware of this in the strictest of terms, from the get go.

We design, create and direct Public Safety Awareness Campaigns on behalf of the People of Zimbabwe on issues concerning which they may feel need to be addressed and afforded more Publicity. We aim to make our Campaigns targeted and visible for maximum impact. People can visit our Facebook Page: Citizen Concern Bureau of Zimbabwe - CCBZ, for updates and information.

We therefore encourage the people of Zimbabwe to come forward with any and all Public Safety concerns, which they may have identified as needing Public Awareness about. We aim to first of all investigate the concerns, through surveys and the like, to assess whether or not any justification for a targeted Awareness Campaign may in fact be warranted. In order for a "Citizen Concern" to qualify for a Public Awareness Campaign organised and directed by our organisation, it must be clearly demonstrated that there is a real, present and immediate danger to Public Safety and there needs to be justification of how a Public Awareness Campaign may mitigate the danger, thereby preserving the sanctity of life.

We are currently spearheading Public Safety Campaigns with charitable funds provided by various organisations including but not limited to: Private Individuals, Businesses, Civil Society Groups and Religious Organisations. We recognise that as much as we would love to, we do not possess the legal powers to literary "take the fight back" to the muggers and thieves operating in Harare, robbing, injuring and severely traumatising their victims, but we will also not just sit it out and stand aside while people are subjected to such criminal behaviour by certain unscrupulous elements of the Zimbabwean society. Raising Awareness in this way is therefore our little way of fighting back. We hope members of the public will become aware of this clear and present danger and that they may take action to avoid being caught up in this trending unfortunate confrontation with the muggers.

Here are just a few safety tips that people may want to be aware of:

• Avoid using isolated, non-designated pick-up points late at night.
• Ensure your personal safety by taking note of the vehicle's licence plates, where possible.
• If it is a Kombi, kindly ask to see the operating permit before boarding.
• If you must be on at a non-ranking pick up point, let it be in a visible and crowded spot.
• Activate the tracking system on your mobile phone by going to your security settings.
• If you have an iOS or Android-based Smart Phone, download and install a free Emergency SOS Panic Button App like RED PANIC BUTTON.

These Apps allow you to configure your phone to discreetly send an SMS Text and Email to your emergency contacts, containing your pre-set Emergency message and a link to Google Maps containing GPS co-ordinates of your current location. By default, the App will allow you to save at least one Emergency Contact while others will allow you to save multiple contacts for free. However, some will require you to pay for an upgrade to access these added features and more.

We are hoping to create a similar App specifically designed for the people of Zimbabwe.  

Together we can save lives!