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Crime Reporter
More than 300 suspects were arrested in and around Harare last year for armed robbery and murder as such cases continue to increase.
According to police, there was an increase in murder and armed robbery cases by 13 percent and 19 percent, respectively in 2014 compared to 2013.

At least 149 armed robbery and murder cases were reported during the same period.

In 2013, 113 suspects were arrested while 124 armed robbery and murder cases were reported.

CID deputy director Assistant Commissioner Elias Mvere, yesterday expressed concern over such cases.

“In view of the aforementioned cases, CID Homicide team witnessed a detection rate of 33 percent in murder cases and 31 percent in armed robbery cases compared to set targets of 80 percent and 30 percent, respectively. This has been attributed to either lack of material resources or criminal intelligence,” he said.

Ass Comm Mvere was speaking at the launch of the CID Homicide Harare Crime Consultative Committee in Harare yesterday. He hailed the coming in of the committee and said it was going to assist the section. He urged stakeholders and the public to continue working with the police in the fight against crime.

The officer commanding CID Homicide section in Harare, Chief Superintendent Nyaradzai Majachani, said all activities ranging from political, economic, social and criminal emanated from Harare as the capital city of the country which housed people with different ethnic backgrounds. She said this had led to a change in their policing environment.