GWERU – Midlands police have issued a prohibition order banning the carrying of dangerous weapons in public following a spate of murders and robberies.
Chief Superintendent Enthia Muzvidziwa, the officer commanding Gweru Rural, signed the prohibition order which took effect on November 11 and will run until February 22, 2022.
“The reason for this prohibition order is to curb crimes of assault, robbery, murder and rape,” Midlands police spokesman Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said.
“We are appealing to members of the community to comply with the order and to report all those they see in possession of any weapons at their nearest police station.”
Individuals found carrying weapons risked being sent to jail for six months, he said.
Dangerous weapons generally refer to items that can cause serious bodily injury to someone.They include knives, axes and machetes.
At least nine cases of murder were recorded in the first week of November alone under Gweru district.
On November 2, four people died in gruesome murders in Gweru while one was found dead on the outskirts of the city.
In Woodlands Park Phase 1, 38-year-old Leo Kanyimo knifed to death his wife and two kids, and a third child survived.
Kanyimo died in police holding cells two days later, reportedly from injuries after he was attacked by a mob.
On the same day, a woman’s body was found in a decomposing state on the outskirts of Gweru, likely murdered.
On November 4, a 28-year-old man died near the Gweru Boggie Clock after being struck with a brick several times on the head.
Inspector Mahoko said: “There has been an upsurge of murder cases in Midlands of late. There is also an indication that robberies are on the rise in all areas across the province. They used to be prevalent in places like dark alleys or thoroughfares leading to high density suburbs in towns. Now, they have also become common on highways and other places.”
On November 9, armed robbers struck at Somphakathi Primary School in Lower Gweru and stole the headmaster’s car.
