The crime rate in the Midlands has gone up a staggering 33% The Chronicle reports. This revealed at the launch of the Police Provincial Client Service Charter and Midlands Cop of the year awards ceremony at ZRP Zvishavane Camp.
Officer Commanding Midlands Province Commissioner Moses Magandi shed more light on the stats he threw around by saying:
Our crime analysis indicates that general crime increased by 33 percent during the period extending from January to September 2019 as compared to the same period last year. A total of 3 709 cases were received in 2019 as compared to 2 789 received during the same period in 2018.
The increase in crime may be attributed to the influx of artisanal miners from some parts of the country who come into our area searching for precious stones since we are blessed with mineral deposits in the province
The increase in crime according to Comm Magandi is mainly due to fortune seekers known as Makorokoza and machete welding gangs known as Mashurugwi. However one cannot completely rule out the notion that the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe is also playing a part in the increase in crime rate.
More: The Chronicle