Bulawayo on Edge: Crime Wave Surges 33.7% in Early 2025

Bulawayo’s crime rate has surged 33.7% in early 2025, according to ZimStat, with over 310,000 cases recorded (image source)

A recent ZimStat report shows that Bulawayo recorded more than 310,800 criminal cases between January and March 2025, marking a 33.7% jump compared to the last quarter of 2024. The spike encompasses a wide range of offences—from theft and robbery to sexual violence and murder—leaving communities reeling and authorities scrambling for solutions.

ZimStat data also reveal that Bulawayo’s crime rate stands at 2,506.1 incidents per 100,000 people, nearly double the national average of 1,370.6 per 100,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2024. Offences against public safety and state security accounted for the lion’s share, followed by property crimes and violent acts against individuals.

A separate ZimStat vulnerability index for the fourth quarter of 2024 placed Bulawayo’s crime risk at 2,694.5 per 100,000—75% higher than Harare’s rate and 76% above the national average of 1,532.3 per 100,000. The same report noted a 13% quarter-on-quarter increase in overall criminal incidents, underscoring a persistent upward trend.

Security analyst Tinashe Mudzamiri warns that well-organised syndicates exploit gaps in patrol coverage and surveillance. “These gangs operate with military-style precision, targeting residential areas at night and striking urban markets by day,” she said. “Without a strategic overhaul of policing tactics and better community engagement, the cycle will only worsen.”

Statistical anomalies also point to weeks of acute violence. Between December 20th and 26th, 2024, the Zimbabwe Republic Police logged 47 murder cases nationwide, many linked to disputes at social gatherings and walk-by attacks after dark. Bulawayo suburbs featured prominently in that tally.

In Nketa Ward 25, councillor Aleck Ndlovu reports that machete-wielding gangs tied to illegal gold panning have become a nightly terror. “Residents say they sleep with one eye open,” he told community members. He has invited police commanders to conduct joint day-and-night patrols but admits neighbourhood watch teams are overwhelmed by the scale and brutality of the crimes.

For local businesses, the surge means higher security costs and anxious investors. Private security firms report up to a 20% increase in demand from Bulawayo shop owners and small-scale manufacturers, diverting capital that might otherwise boost production. This wave of crime poses a direct threat to Bulawayo’s economic stability. As entrepreneurs factor in the cost of armed guards and CCTV installations, operating margins shrink and job creation stalls. The city’s longstanding reputation as Zimbabwe’s industrial hub is under siege.

Unless authorities implement data-driven policing, strengthen forensic capabilities, and rebuild trust with communities, Bulawayo risks becoming a cautionary tale of urban collapse. Emerging technologies like real-time incident mapping and mobile-enabled tip-lines offer hope—but only if paired with sustained political will.