WHEN FOLLY WAS BLIND TO WISDOM

Mpundu Valerie

Around 18:00hrs, as darkness settled over Southerton, a 35-year-old man began moving suspiciously around Boyd and Orpen Way. Lethargic. Zig-zag steps. Heartbeat loud. Guilt written all over his face.

Wisdom was watching. Takudzwa, a security officer coming from work, trusted his instinct. He followed. "I saw this funnily dressed man walking suspiciously. My mind wouldn't settle. He stopped abruptly at Boyd and Orpen Way, then continued within that same area," Takudzwa said. "I wasn't sure of his intentions until I realised he was cutting fibre cables."

One cut and an entire community loses connectivity. Businesses, homes, security systems all blacked out. Takudzwa immediately called his boss, Mr Risinamhodzi, who in turn informed Hon Makahamadze, who also contacted the police and Cde Gwenzi, Head of Security Upper Flemming, who, despite being stuck in traffic, mobilised a team.

"I received a call from Hon, and he asked me to intercept this guy. Unfortunately, Appleyard was overwhelmed with traffic, I couldn't be present at the moment. Instead, we mobilised and worked with the guys from Talbot, and the guy was caught," he said. The suspect slipped past Britannia into Cavel, unaware he was being tracked every step.

From Bexley, Takudzwa teamed up with Bushrod Security. At Talbot, they enlisted two more men who were at a funeral. Together, they found the evidence a sack abandoned under a tree, stuffed with fibre. Lo and behold, above them, hiding in the branches, was folly itself, holding his breath. Probably waiting for his next victim. He was pulled down and searched. Found with a pair of scissors as his tiny weapon of mass destruction. His defence? Folly to the end.

"I am looking for firewood. You manhandling me is abuse. I will report you for kidnapping, assault and battery." No one was buying it. Upon nearing the police station, he started making wild threats, hoping to escape freely. "I am going to tell them you searched me and took my hard-earned money. You guys stole my $10. Let me go, and we will pretend it never happened."

He was handed over to Southerton Police, where he remains in custody pending investigation. In appreciation, Hon Makahamadze gave a token of appreciation to the team for their bravery, courage and skill.

However, the team bemoaned the lack of anti-robbery tools, highlighting the need for training and more manpower. "It would be great if we get more training on how to keep our neighbourhood safe, as well as whistles, eye spray, baton sticks, and maybe guns, which we are to be trained on how to use. As we continue working towards a crime-free neighbourhood, let us keep working together as a community," Godfrey said.

TelOne authorities were notified of the crime.