Religious leaders in Beitbridge have launched a major community mobilisation effort aimed at supporting government initiatives to curb rising crime in the border town. The area has experienced a worrying increase in housebreaking, robberies and youth-related offences in recent months, prompting churches, local authorities and law-enforcement to work more closely than before.
Representatives from various church denominations, working alongside the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), have been holding community engagement meetings across several wards. These dialogues are designed to bring residents, police officers and local leaders together to openly discuss the challenges their communities are facing. The sessions have focused heavily on preventing sexual and gender-based violence, tackling the growing problem of drug and substance abuse among young people and addressing the surge in robberies.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Beitbridge Pastors’ Fraternal, a body that has committed itself to helping maintain peace and stability in the district. With the festive season approaching — a period that typically sees increased criminal activity — religious leaders say their involvement is crucial.
“We have recently recorded an increase in crimes of concern in our area, and we are meeting with communities in order to reduce and end these cases in our town and district,” said Pastor Busani Moyo, secretary of the Beitbridge Pastors’ Fraternal.
He explained that the dialogues are organised at Ward level and allow police officers to share safety tips, raise awareness and give practical advice to residents. “The objective of these engagements includes sharing prevention strategies to help end armed robberies and related cases, and to improve anonymous reporting. Some community members may have information but fail to notify the police, so we want to encourage safe and confidential reporting,” he added.
Pastor Moyo said the discussions are designed to be participatory, giving residents the chance to express their views on how policing can be improved in their neighbourhoods. He emphasised the importance of collaboration, especially during holidays such as Christmas, New Year and Easter, when criminals typically become more active.
Religious Leaders in Beitbridge Support Government Crime-Fighting Efforts
“As the Beitbridge Pastors’ Fraternal, we want to give full support to our Government and the police so that we may create an environment with reduced crime,” he said.
The pastor also highlighted the increasing involvement of young people in criminal activities linked to drug abuse. He expressed concern that the trend is spreading across the border town but insisted that strong community cooperation could help reverse it. “We believe that with our support and that from the general community, we will be able to minimise this vice,” he said.
According to the Pastors’ Fraternal, most urban wards have already been covered, and plans are under way to extend the programmes to selected rural wards in the district. Attendance has been high, and residents have repeatedly raised the need for improved public lighting in high-risk zones. The police have also urged community members to use anonymous tip-off systems to report suspicious activities.
Beitbridge West Member of Parliament Thusani Ndou echoed these concerns, urging residents not to shelter offenders, even when the individuals involved are relatives. He said many criminals who operate within Beitbridge are well-known in their communities but remain protected out of fear or loyalty, a practice he warned could have serious consequences.
“The church, community leaders, the police and ordinary community members need to have a social contract to protect our area from crime. We can’t harbour criminals forever; it’s a matter of time before they strike even on their family members,” he said.
Meanwhile, Beitbridge town clerk Loud Ramakgapola confirmed that the municipality had received reports from the police citing limited public lighting as a major contributor to recent robbery cases. He said the local authority has already budgeted for the installation of five new tower lights in vulnerable suburbs as part of next year’s infrastructural upgrades.
Ramakgapola further revealed that the council had reached an agreement in principle with Econet Wireless to install tower lights at some of the company’s base stations across the town. The partnership is expected to strengthen security in poorly lit areas and make it easier for both residents and law-enforcement officers to monitor criminal activity.
As the engagement programme continues across Beitbridge, stakeholders say the ultimate goal is to rebuild trust, empower communities and create a safer environment for all residents.
Source- Herald
