RESIDENTS in the high-density suburb of Pumula North in Bulawayo are living in fear of hooligans who have been going around throwing stones at houses leaving a trail of destruction with windowpanes and asbestos sheets broken.
The criminal activities have escalated to theft of essential property like water meters and Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) cables. When a Sunday News crew visited the suburb yesterday afternoon, residents took the crew on a tour of the houses that were vandalised by the hooligans.
One of the streets with at least 13 semi-detached houses had various degrees of damage ranging from broken windowpanes to broken asbestos sheets. The news crew also witnessed hanging copper wires from the power line which residents said were vandalised and stolen on Friday night. Some houses with the older versions of water meters were also vandalised and stolen by thieves reportedly over the past month.
One of the residents, Gogo Levi Galatiya (82) said she reported the matter to the police as she was now living in fear of the hooligans.
“I started staying here in 1979 and we have never witnessed such behaviour. These are young people particularly youths whom we suspect could be high on drugs or other substances.
Those who drink ordinary beer cannot do this. They announce their arrival from drinking spots through loud singing as they pass by but there is a new crop of youths who go around throwing stones at our houses.
My asbestos sheets were destroyed at around 9pm and they continued to do so in the neighbourhood. They started about a month ago and their motive is unknown,” said Gogo Galatiya.
Mr Ocean Nkomo (30) said when they go out to investigate, the perpetrators disappear into the thick of the night.
“They threw stones at my house and broke my windowpanes around 8pm about two weeks ago. When we went out to check we did not see anyone.
We suspect that it could be these young boys who will be high on drugs,” said Mr Nkomo.
Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo confirmed receiving reports of hooliganism in her ward.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Inspector Abednico Ncube said they have not received reports on the vandalism cases and would need to check on that. – Sunday News
