Robberies, muggings escalate in Bulawayo's dark suburb

The ongoing shortage of tower lights in Bulawayo's Cowdray Park suburb has become a significant contributor to the surge in criminal activities, particularly muggings and robberies, leaving residents in fear for their safety. The suburb, which is home to over 75,000 people, is grappling with a security crisis exacerbated by the darkness caused by the lack of adequate street lighting.

Tower lights, essential for illuminating large areas such as highways, intersections, and residential zones, are crucial for ensuring safety, especially during the night. The absence of these lights has created a fertile ground for criminal elements, who target unsuspecting residents in poorly lit areas.

In a tragic incident on November 4, 2024, Inobubele Mhlanga, a 23-year-old student from Bulawayo Polytechnic, was fatally stabbed moments after getting off a kombi in Cowdray Park. This has further highlighted the dangers posed by the lack of streetlights, which leaves residents vulnerable to attacks.

Cowdray Park has a long history of high crime rates, with burglary and housebreaking being particularly prevalent. The suburb has witnessed numerous incidents in recent years, including a violent attack on a TM Pick n Pay store by a gang armed with guns, and a series of robberies and rapes committed by a group of nine individuals in 2016.

According to Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the acting provincial police spokesperson, underdevelopment and lack of infrastructure in the suburb have contributed to the high rate of crimes. On average, there are three cases of unlawful entry or housebreaking reported every day in Cowdray Park.

One of the most significant challenges, however, remains the lack of tower lights. Acting as a deterrent to criminals, the absence of these lights has given perpetrators the upper hand, allowing them to carry out attacks under the cover of darkness.

Council records show that the city spends US$10,000 monthly to maintain streetlights in other suburbs, making the cost of installing and maintaining tower lights in Cowdray Park prohibitive. However, residents are calling for a shift to solar-powered lights as a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.

Ward 28 Councillor Ntando Ndlovu, whose constituency includes Cowdray Park, expressed grave concern over the escalating number of muggings, particularly at night. "The situation in Cowdray Park has become increasingly concerning, with parts of the area remaining without adequate tower lighting, leaving residents vulnerable to criminal activities, particularly muggings and robberies during the night," he said. "Some areas have persistent issues with blown-out bulbs, while others still have incomplete lighting infrastructure."

Councillor Ndlovu has raised these concerns in several council meetings, urging the use of the ward's retention levy to repair existing lights and to explore solar-powered solutions. "We have requested that the retention fund be utilized to repair the existing tower lights, with an additional proposal to solarise them," he said. "The goal is to ensure sustainable lighting solutions for the area, restore safety, and provide long-term, reliable solutions to this recurring problem."

In addition to the challenges with functional tower lights, there have been issues with vandalism, with metal bars supporting the lights being cut off, causing the towers to collapse. Ward 29 Councillor Roy Sekete noted that the new bulbs installed in the area often stop working within two weeks, further compounding the problem.

As the holiday season approaches, residents and local authorities are becoming increasingly aware of the urgent need to address the issue. Cllr Ndlovu stressed the importance of immediate intervention to curb the rising number of incidents. "These dark spots, especially in high-traffic zones, are attracting criminal elements, and locals have expressed mounting fear for their safety. We need to eliminate the dark areas that have become hotspots for criminal activity to ensure a safer environment for all residents."

The call for action comes at a time when the city has been grappling with the broader effects of the electricity load-shedding crisis. Earlier this year, the Bulawayo City Council announced plans to install solar-powered streetlights across the city, with the hope that solar energy could help mitigate the impact of ongoing power cuts.

As criminal activities continue to mount in Cowdray Park, residents remain hopeful that the council will prioritize addressing the lighting issue, ensuring that the suburb is no longer a haven for crime. The proposed shift to solar-powered lights offers a promising solution, one that could provide the much-needed illumination to enhance safety in the area.