Fear on the Streets as Bulawayo Grapples with Surge in Armed Robberies

Earlier this year, armed robbers raided a club in broad daylight (image source)

Residents of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city are living in fear following a spate of violent armed robberies that rattled communities last week. Within just a few hours on Wednesday, three separate incidents were reported in different parts of the city, leaving behind traumatised victims, mounting economic losses, and renewed questions about urban safety. According to Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, the first incident occurred in Nkulumane 12 where a 34-year-old man was confronted by two armed men while driving home.

“The suspects, armed with pistols, fired shots into the air before making off with the victim's vehicle, which contained cash and personal belongings worth a total of US$7,030,” Ndlovu said.

Later the same evening, around 8 p.m., two masked men forced their way into an apartment in Bulawayo’s central business district. The 37-year-old resident was subdued, tied hand and foot, and robbed of US$5,000 and two mobile phones. The third robbery, striking less than an hour later in Hillside, targeted a security guard. Three armed men stormed the property, tied up the guard, and looted around US$6,000 in cash before disappearing into the night.

While police were quick to respond to the reports, the chilling similarities between the attacks have raised speculation of a coordinated syndicate. All incidents involved armed men operating with military-style precision, overwhelming their victims and making clean getaways.

“Urban armed robberies are not random acts of desperation anymore,” criminologist Dr. Shepherd Ndlovu, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said. “They are increasingly carried out by organised gangs who plan, surveil, and strike with confidence—often aware that the chances of being caught are low.”

The targeting of both individuals and businesses underscores a worrying trend: armed gangs are diversifying their crime to include carjackings, home invasions, and cash robberies. For residents, these crimes are not just about the monetary loss—they are a psychological siege. Fear has become palpable in the city’s suburbs, with locals whispering about “unknown men” prowling at night.

“I no longer walk home after dark,” said a Bulawayo CBD shop assistant, who requested anonymity. “These days, you don’t know whether that car following you is a kombi, or criminals waiting for the right moment.”

The police have increased patrols in crime-prone areas, but the public remains sceptical. “We only see them after something has happened,” complained a Nkulumane resident. Analysts link the spike in robberies to Zimbabwe’s deteriorating economy, where cash-based transactions remain dominant. With many households and businesses avoiding banks due to liquidity issues, large sums of cash are kept in cars, homes, and shops—making them ripe targets for criminals.

“Until Zimbabwe shifts decisively to digital and traceable money, cash robberies will continue to thrive,” argues economist Dr. Godfrey Kanyenze. “The informalisation of the economy means people prefer hard cash, which unfortunately creates opportunities for armed gangs.”

Police insist they are “working tirelessly” to bring the perpetrators to book. Yet Zimbabwe’s law enforcement faces several challenges: underfunding, shortage of patrol vehicles, and corruption within some ranks.

Former police commissioner Augustine Chihuri, speaking at a 2024 security seminar, noted that urban policing requires “technology-driven intelligence gathering, rapid response units, and citizen partnerships” to be effective. Currently, Bulawayo’s community policing forums are underutilised, and residents complain of delayed responses when crimes are reported. This is not the first time Bulawayo has faced such a crime wave. In 2021, the city recorded a surge in heist-style robberies, many involving former security officers with access to firearms. Police cracked down through sting operations, leading to several arrests. Experts warn that without a similar coordinated strategy now, the current wave could escalate.

Civil society groups are calling for more investment in street lighting, CCTV surveillance, and community policing initiatives. Residents have also begun forming informal WhatsApp neighbourhood watch groups to alert each other of suspicious activity. Meanwhile, the public awaits reassurance from the government that urban security is not slipping out of control. As one Hillside resident put it:

“We don’t just want statements; we want to feel safe again.”

The Bulawayo robberies are more than isolated incidents—they are a symptom of economic strain, weak policing capacity, and organised criminal networks. Whether the authorities can break the cycle remains to be seen. For now, residents live with the uneasy knowledge that another night of violence may be only a heartbeat away.