Gwanda Police to be firm on late nightclub closures

The failure by nightclubs to close early and at the stipulated times is one of the factors that has contributed to high crime rate in Gwanda Urban, a senior Police officer has said.

Secretary for the Crime Consultative team Chief Inspector Muyambirwa Muza said many crimes that they record are a result of alcohol uptake and the crimes were committed as imbibers leave night clubs late at night.

He was addressing a crime consultative meeting in Gwanda recently. Muza however, was happy that compared to last year, crime rates were this year generally lower and at times by as much as 10 percent.

He said Police would have to be firm with nightclubs that were not observing their closing times.

"We have been generous with liquor outlets but we have realised that they are failing to comply with the regulations. They must close on time. We recently had cases of Bhangwela boys who moved around drunk assaulting people. It is my desire to have those statistics going down month by month until we have a crime free society and it takes me and you to assist each other," said Muza.

Muza however, said crime rates for Gwanda Urban dropped from 184 cases in August and September 2015 to 165 in the same period this year thereby reflecting a 10 percent drop, Police has said.

"We get relieved when the crime rate is dropping because we know that the community that we are here to safeguard is safe. We however have major concern on plain robbery, armed robbery, juvenile rape, unlawful entry, stock theft, theft and assault and we believe there is still room for crime rates decrease," he said.

Residents were encouraged to report crime as soon as possible on the following whatsapp line 0717724127 and they were promised anonymity.

Masvingo Mirror