Editorial Comment: Thumbs up for the judiciary

Residents of Bulawayo, particularly those from Luveve and Cowdray Park suburbs, yesterday woke up to very refreshing news that members of the gang that has been terrorising them, have been locked up for very long periods. The eight robbers and rapists were jailed for periods ranging from 18 to 166 years and all of them will spend a combined 629 years in jail.

The gang which committed a spate of robberies, rape, carjacking and unlawful entries, was causing residents sleepless nights. Residents of Luveve, Cowdray Park and surrounding suburbs will now sleep soundly following the incarceration of these merciless monsters who had no respect for women.

We want to applaud the judiciary for sending a very clear message that crime does not pay. The lengthy sentences are infact a very bold statement that society abhors crime especially robbery and rape. In one of the cases, the gang members had the temerity to fish out a woman from her bedroom where she was sleeping with her husband and raped her in her living room.

At times the gang members would gang rape their victims while their lovers watched. The three regional magistrates that presided over the cases, Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze, Mark Dzira and Chrispen Mberewere were all agreed that these social outcasts should be removed from society for a very long period.

The trio seems to have captured society’s mood and feelings towards these gang members that have left some of the victims traumatised for life. The judiciary has complemented the police’s hard work in tracking down these dangerous criminals.

We have already commended the police for a job well done. The police managed to summon all the available resources to hunt down the criminals when they last struck at Luveve High school where they raped two teachers and another woman before stealing household goods at the staff compound.

Police raided several properties including one in Esigodini leading to the arrest of the nine robbers. One of the robbers who is receiving treatment after he was shot by the police as he attempted to evade arrest, is yet to stand trial while the other is still on the run.

We call on the police to account for this robber that is on run so that the job is complete. The police should, however, not relax until the city and the entire country is rid of such criminals that want to disturb peace and traumatise women.

The judiciary should continue to pass deterrent sentences in order to send a clear message to would be offenders that criminals will be severely punished. Residents as we have said before, should continue to assist the police to fight crime. Criminals live among the people and therefore the onus is on residents to alert the police of the presence of these criminals.

These gang members after committing their heinous crimes, were going back to their families and we strongly feel those that harbour criminals are equally guilty of a crime.

We want to once again implore the police to continue with their operation to rid the city of criminals while residents play their role of providing information and this includes relatives of criminals.

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