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Trust Freddy 

Herald Correspondent 

HARARE central business district has been overrun by a group of rowdy street kids who are snatching wigs, jewellery, cell phones, food, purses, and other valuables from unsuspecting people, particularly women and schoolchildren.

These youngsters, who seem to be between 10 and 20 years old, are reportedly working with vendors, who collude with them to steal people’s valuables in exchange for a share of the spoils.

While some snatch handbags, the youngest ones, ranging from 5 to 10 years , have turned to aggressive begging, grasping people’s legs with both hands and refusing to release their grip until they receive money or food.

The Herald has established that Harare’s Africa Unity Square, once a tranquil escape, has been hijacked by street kids, transforming it into a chaotic playground. 

During the day, they frolic in the water fountains and swim in the pool, rendering the garden unusable for those seeking serenity. 

Similarly, Harare Gardens has also fallen victim to the marauding street kids, who have commandeered the entire southern stretch along Julius Nyerere Way, from Crown Plaza to the Arts Gallery, preying on solitary female pedestrians.

Ms Yvette Shekede from Crowborough shared her experience with The Herald yesterday, recounting how she fell victim to the rowdy street kids at the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and Leopold Takawira street.

“In just a few short minutes, I was robbed of my headphones and crucial work papers,” she said.

“I had finished stock-taking at our shops and was en route to our head office when a street kid swiftly snatched the bag containing all my records.”

A pupil, who requested anonymity, revealed to The Herald that they had resorted to travelling in groups to avoid harassment. 

“We now ensure we walk in groups whenever we use streets like Agostinho Neto Avenue (formerly Speke Avenue), Robert Mugabe Road and Julius Nyerere Way,” the student said. 

The Herald discovered that it has become a daunting experience for pedestrians, especially women, to navigate Robert Mugabe Road and Leopold Takawira Street.

“I was left in tears,’ Ms Ruvimbo Mazanza recounted, reliving her traumatic experience with street kids near Eat n Lick along Leopold Takawira Street. 

“I helplessly watched as a street kid snatched my $120 Brazilian weave and vanished into the crowded streets, leaving me with luggage in both hands and no way to chase after him.”

She also implored the police to patrol the hotspots, as some of the robberies are occurring in broad daylight. 

“It’s common knowledge that the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and Leopold Takawira Street is a hotspot for street kids who harass pedestrians, and ironically, another gang operates near the Town House gate, grabbing people’s legs.

“We appeal to the ZRP and municipal police to help us combat these rowdy kids and ensure our safety,” she added.

The Herald also uncovered a trend where kids, some as young as 10, are being exploited by their parents to prey on unsuspecting pedestrians. 

These children, who are supposed to be in school, are instead being used to snatch people’s valuables at traffic lights and intersections when the lights are about to turn green. These resourceful kids have honed the skill of dodging moving vehicles, leaving their victims unable to give chase. 

Furthermore, our investigation revealed that the children who grab people’s legs at Joina City footbridge, demanding valuables, are often working in tandem with their parents.

“Some of these children are not genuinely homeless,” said Ms Tendai Chibaya, a vendor at the intersection of Agostinho Neto Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way by the bridge. 

“Their mothers, who keep a watchful eye, are sending them out to exploit unsuspecting pedestrians every day, instead of attending school. It’s a tragic exploitation of these children for unethical gain.”

When contacted for comment, National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to immediately report such cases for further investigations. 

“The position of the police is that anyone who is a victim of the so-called street kids must come forward so that the police can conduct investigations, monitor such areas, and take appropriate action.”

 Efforts by The Herald to get a comment from Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume yesterday were fruitless, as his phone went unanswered.