National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi said police have arrested 275 people at Beitbridge Border Post who were
trying to cross into South Africa without any valid travel documents during an
intensified police operation during the festive season.
Asst Comm Nyathi said of the people intercepted by police
23 were minors and have been taken into the custody of the Social Welfare
Department while their parents were being identified after the suspects who
have also been arrested were intercepted while trying to smuggle the children
into neighbouring South Africa.
He said police were investigating the case to establish
whether it was human trafficking or not.
“In other police operations, 275 people were arrested while
trying to cross into South Africa without any valid travel documents at
Beitbridge Border Post. Of these 23 were minors and they are now in the Social
Welfare Department’s custody.
They have since commenced the Covid-19 screening process
and the identification of their parents is also underway.
The ZRP is firm on the ground to ensure that citizens and
visitors alike enjoy a crime and accident-free environment.
We are still investigating the case,” he said. Asst Comm
Nyathi said there were murder cases some of which were gruesome that were
recorded during the festive season.
He said in one of the murder incidents a man from Mwenezi
killed and cut off his six-year-old niece’s private parts before setting the
body on fire.
“During the same period, cases of murder emanating from
beer drinking binges were also recorded. On December 31, 2020, at Thelela
Nyoni’s shop in Filabusi a 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed with an okapi
knife following a misunderstanding.
“On the same day a 41-year-old man was fatally stabbed on
the chest with a knife after a misunderstanding over a girlfriend in
Beitbridge. In Filabusi again a 49-year-old man was fatally stabbed with a
knife on December 16 and later succumbed to the injuries on December 30.
In an unrelated incident on December 29, 2020, in Mwenezi,
a six-year-old girl was fatally assaulted with a switch by her uncle after she
had lost cattle while herding them in the company of another minor. In a bid to
conceal the crime the suspect and his accomplice cut off the girl’s private
parts and set the body on fire. The two were arrested following a tip-off by
members of the public,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police have arrested 2 321 people for
violating lockdown measures throughout the country on New Year’s Day.
“It appears members of the public are taking Covid-19 for
granted and are no longer taking precautionary measures. We are aware of the
incident of an alleged unsanctioned gathering in Mbare on New Year’s Eve and
investigations have been instituted.
“So far 52 people have been arrested and we are looking for
DJ Fantan who operates a recording studio at Block 14 Matapi Flats and David
House Entertainment operators for openly defying Government’s Covid-19 measures
on health, safety and security. The police officers who were allegedly on the
ground have been asked to shed more light on what actually transpired.
“In Watsomba, Mutare police have arrested a local
businessman who hired musician Alick Macheso to perform at a family event at
the growth point in violation of the national lockdown measures,” he said.
Sunday News
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