Cops hail community

POLICE here have hailed the community for working with the law enforcing agents in combating crime and reducing it to manageable levels.

In an interview on the sidelines of the conferment of badges to 25 commissioned officers comprising 16 inspectors and nine chief inspectors, Masvingo Officer Commanding Crime Assistant Commissioner Edias Tembo commended the community for cooperating with police in stopping crime.

Among the promoted police inspectors, nine were females, while seven were males, and among chief inspectors, six were females, while three were males.

“Crime is rampant in the province although I do not have statistics right now,” said Asst Comm Tembo.

“We have, however, come up with strategies where the community has assisted us.”

Asst Comm Tembo said cases of unlawful entry and theft, stocktheft and rape were on an upward trend, but he was optimistic that with the continued support from the community, police would soon be on top of the situation.

“We have cases where the community has played a pivotal role in bringing the criminals to book,” he said.

“For example, we had a notorious rapist who had unleashed a reign of terror in Chivi and Masvingo districts.

“He was raping and injuring and in some instances killing his victims.

“Through the assistance of the community, we managed to arrest the culprit, who was convicted and is serving 72 years in prison now.

“Unlawful entry and theft and rape cases are on the increase, but we are managing the situation through awareness campaigns and the community is responsive.”