St Mary’s Member of Parliament Brighton Mazhindu has hailed community-led security initiatives for contributing to a decline in violent crime, as political leaders strongly condemned the use of party names to shield criminal activities in Chitungwiza.
Last Saturday, Mazhindu, accompanied by Ward 3 councillor Foster Chabuka and proportional representation councillor Cynthia Pewula, met members of the Manyame Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC), which serves wards 3 and 4.
The meeting was addressed by community liaison officer Sergeant Mutanda, who outlined how neighbourhood watch structures operate and emphasised the critical role of communities in crime prevention.
Mutanda commended the committee, describing it as the best performing NWC in Chitungwiza.
NWCs are an initiative of the commissioner-general of police, aimed at strengthening cooperation between residents and law enforcement to maintain peace and security.
The revival of the Manyame NWC was spearheaded by Mazhindu following a spike in murder cases in St Mary’s and Zengeza in December last year and January this year.
“NWCs are a good initiative as they involve communities and crimes are committed in communities,” Mazhindusaid.
“Lately, there has been a lot of drug dealing in our neighbourhoods and it will be easier for the police to apprehend criminals.”
Since the reactivation of the committee, murder cases have reportedly declined, while awareness campaigns targeting drug and substance abuse — widely blamed for rising crime — have intensified.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza South MP Maxwell Mavhunga expressed deep concern over violent crime in parts of the constituency, saying he was personally affected by recent developments.
“I was devastated to meet friends of Boston Chivhayo, the young man who was callously murdered in the Chigumba area,” Mavhunga said.
“Stories are now coming out of how people have been suffering in that area at the hands of criminal thugs who use the name of Zanu PF as a shield.”
Mavhunga said residents had endured years of abuse and intimidation in silence due to fear.
“There are illegal tollgates, and revellers in bars are forced to chant party slogans,” he said.
“So many people have been killed, and people kept quiet out of fear. I think enough is enough.”
Mavhunga welcomed moves by local party structures to distance themselves from criminal conduct.
“I am glad that in our area, Zanu PF has clearly distanced itself from this criminal behaviour,” he said.
“We do not want criminals who use the name of a political party to commit crimes.”
Efforts to contact Zanu PF officials were fruitless yesterday, but the party’s information department is on record stating that any individuals who commit criminal acts while shielding themselves behind the party’s name will be dealt with severely, warning that the party will not tolerate lawlessness or the abuse of its structures for criminal activity.
Community leaders and civil society groups have also added their voices, calling for thorough investigations and swift justice in all unsolved murder cases affecting Chitungwiza.
Albert Masaka of the Chitungwiza Service Delivery Forum said residents were demanding accountability and decisive action from authorities.
“Our prayer is that this matter is being, or should be, thoroughly investigated and that those responsible face the consequences,” Masaka said.
“The Chitungwiza Service Delivery Forum demands swift justice. We expect and are confident that the law will catch up with the perpetrators, just as it did with the serial murderer, Anymore Zvitsva.”
Masaka said restoring public confidence in law enforcement was critical for community stability and development.
Former legislator and residents’ representative Marvelous Kumalo praised ongoing efforts to address insecurity and service delivery challenges, saying they marked a positive shift for the community.
“Such efforts being made to drive development in our community are truly refreshing and deserve recognition,” Kumalo said.
“The proactive approach being taken to address service delivery issues is commendable and serves as a great example for others to emulate.”
However, Kumalo stressed that development could not be separated from justice and accountability.
