Cowdray Park residents push for stronger neighbourhood watch

Residents of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo are calling for stronger and better-organised neighbourhood watch committees amid growing concern over theft and other criminal activities in the suburb.

Community members say rising incidents of crime have left many residents feeling unsafe, particularly at night, and are urging greater collaboration between residents and law enforcement agencies.

Methembe Sithole, a local resident, said the current neighbourhood watch structures are not effective enough to deal with the situation.

"There are some residents who want to get involved in stopping crime because the crime rate is very high in our area," he said.

He added that fear of crime has affected daily life, with some residents losing property and others avoiding movement after dark.

"As residents, we are worried because crime is too rampant in our area. People are losing property and some are no longer feeling safe, especially at night," he said.

Another resident, Prince Chikurukuta, said stronger community coordination with police is essential to reduce criminal activity.

"As residents we need to work together and support neighbourhood watch committees because the situation is becoming serious," he said.

He added that organised community participation could significantly improve safety if properly supported.

"When people in the community work together and report crime, it becomes easier to fight crime," he said.

Cowdray Park ward 28 councillor Ntando Ndlovu acknowledged concerns over crime, attributing it partly to the suburb's rapid growth and size, though he said there had been some improvement in recent months.

He credited neighbourhood watch committees for helping reduce opportunistic crime through increased visibility and patrols.

"I want to sincerely applaud both the neighbourhood watch committees for its dedication and the residents for the continued support they give," he said.

Ndlovu noted that break-ins and theft were still being reported, particularly in poorly lit areas, and stressed the need for improved infrastructure.

He said the council is working on upgrading and maintaining tower lights in key areas and encouraged residents to contribute towards improved street lighting.

"We continue to engage regularly with the police and community structures to review trends and responses," he said.

However, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said crime statistics do not reflect an overall increase, cautioning against perceptions driven by isolated incidents.

"I don't just comment. I am backed by statistics," she said, adding that reports of rising crime may be exaggerated based on individual cases.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions between residents' perceptions of insecurity and official crime data, as communities seek stronger local solutions to urban safety challenges.