RESIDENTS in Zvishavane have adopted the use of whistles to alert each other of robbers amidst a surge in crime in the mining town.
Zvishavane Residents Association chairperson Kamino Simango told the Daily News yesterday that cases of theft and robbery were becoming a headache hence residents had devised mechanisms to fight the scourge.
“We have introduced the use of whistles; this is not unique to us because in other parts of the country this is done. “So what happens is that when one person suspects a robber or thief they blow their whistle and all of us respond by blowing also to show that we are coming to rescue them,” Simango said. He added that residents had agreed on the whistles strategy after realising that sometimes robbers overpower victims who might be helpless.
“Sometimes in the morning you hear of news that a neighbour has been attacked but surprisingly you probably didn’t hear of it during the time they got attacked. We then realised that it is better to work together and find a way to fight together”. Simango noted that residents were responding positively after buying into the idea.
He, however, added that: “We have not caught a suspect as yet since it’s new but almost everyone bought their whistle”. Ward 1 councillor Takarangana Keta is confident the strategy will help in getting rid of criminals.
Meanwhile, the councillor said he had approached police to increase patrols in residential areas. “I went to the local police station and told them about the worrying reports of crime in most residential areas so I requested for more patrols.
This applies mostly to high density areas. This will assist us in dealing with crime,” he said. Keta said he also reported a self -styled prophet who allegedly had illegally settled in Mandava suburb and whom they suspect to be a criminal.