Residents in Sizinda, Bulawayo, have acquired two service vehicles aimed at responding to growing cases of violence linked to drug and substance abuse, while also providing logistical support during funerals.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Bulawayo Community Action Group (BCAG) together with Sizinda community leaders, comes in response to incidents involving youths reportedly abusing drugs and substances and turning violent within households and the neighbourhood.
BCAG is a community-based civic organisation in Bulawayo that works to promote community development, public safety and active citizen participation in addressing local challenges.
Speaking to Southern Eye, BCAG founder Sevina Ncube said community leaders introduced several projects aimed at improving safety and support services for residents amid the worrying situation of youths who turn violent towards family members and neighbours.
“The first initiative is a funeral assistance vehicle, which will help families during bereavement by handling errands involved in the burial order process. The vehicle will ease the burden on grieving families by ensuring that logistical arrangements during funerals are managed more efficiently,” Ncube said.
The second vehicle is expected to support the neighbourhood watch team in responding to incidents within the community.
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“The response vehicle will help the team to attend to cases involving violent youths, many of whom are reportedly influenced by drug abuse,” Ncube said.
“Some of these youths have been involved in conflicts with their parents and tenants, creating serious safety concerns in the ward.”
Ncube said the team relied on a private vehicle to respond to such incidents, which posed challenges, especially when assisting affected individuals late at night.
In many cases, the neighbourhood watch team must help to restrain and transport the individuals for medical attention in order to calm situations and protect the community.
“The admission process for these youths often begins at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) before they are transferred to Ingutsheni Central Hospital for initial psychiatric assessment and admission.
“Having a dedicated response vehicle will greatly improve the team’s ability to assist patients while maintaining security in the community,” Ncube said.
BCAG has also collaborated with the traffic section of the ZRP in the establishment of zebra
crossing points in the suburb to help improve road safety for pedestrians.