Surge in street kids disrupts Bulawayo CBD

Businesses in Bulawayo's city centre are raising alarm over a growing population of homeless children whose unruly behaviour is disrupting trade, frightening customers, and tarnishing the city's image as a safe commercial hub.

Shop owners, vendors, and transport operators report that the children loiter around shops, fast-food outlets, bus termini, and taxi ranks, aggressively begging, harassing patrons, and occasionally engaging in fights that drive shoppers and commuters away.

"We now operate under fear. They grab items from shop displays, harass customers, and sometimes fight among themselves. When that happens, customers immediately leave," said a business owner along 9th Avenue and George Silundika Street.

Commuters echoed concerns that areas near City Hall have become no-go zones after dark, affecting transport services and night-time business activity. Taxi operators reported that some youths force passengers to hand over money or attempt to snatch valuables, while kombi crews cited frequent clashes at pick-up points. Food vendors also said they are often coerced into giving the children free meals, with incidents of theft and vandalism rising.

Bulawayo police acknowledged the growing problem, revealing that many street children are highly mobile, using night buses to travel between cities and evade patrols.

"These are coordinated movements meant to avoid detection. They travel overnight and blend into the city during the day. As police, we are investigating these reports and profiling those involved," said Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.

The police plan to intensify visible patrols, targeted operations, and intelligence-led monitoring, focusing on the CBD, industrial areas, and major transport hubs. They will also collaborate with the Department of Social Welfare and other stakeholders to address root causes, including homelessness, substance abuse, and family breakdowns.

"While enforcement is necessary to restore order, long-term solutions require a multi-sectoral approach. These are children, and some are victims of deep social challenges," Inspector Msebele added.

Business associations welcomed police intervention but stressed the urgency of sustainable solutions, warning that ongoing disruptions threaten an already fragile business environment.

"This is not just a policing issue. If customers feel unsafe, they stop coming, sales go down, and jobs are threatened," said a CBD business owner. Traders also reported losses from property damage and rising security and insurance costs, with some noting that disorder could depress property values and deter investors.

The problem is also spreading to surrounding suburbs, with street children sleeping in alleyways, abandoned buildings, and near residential flats.

Bulawayo provincial social development officer, Ms Energy Mlambo, said authorities are collaborating with counterparts in other provinces to trace and verify the origins of street children. "We are working with stakeholders such as Scripture Union to rehabilitate these children, provide homes, or reintegrate them into family settings and society," she said.

Public awareness campaigns are being intensified to discourage support for street begging. Ms Mlambo noted that it is an offence under the Children's Act, Chapter 5:06, to send children to beg on the streets, but many children refuse reintegration due to the fast money they earn.

Currently, over 100 street children, mostly teenagers, roam Bulawayo's streets, engaging in begging, scavenging, and offering small services such as car washing and carrying goods for market vendors. The prevalence of litter and debris in these areas adds to the city's growing sanitation challenges.

Authorities warn that without decisive action, these youths risk being drawn further into criminal activities, particularly as the festive season approaches and business activity peaks.