Gun Violence Escalates in Bulawayo as Nketa Neighbourhood Watch Member Escapes Shooting
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – March 31, 2025
A Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) member in Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb narrowly escaped death in the early hours of Saturday after one of three armed men he and his colleagues confronted during a night patrol fired a shot directly at him.
The harrowing incident involved Mr Yeki Ncube, a member of the Nketa 8 NWC, who was on routine patrol with two fellow members when they approached three suspicious men carrying bags. The men initially resisted being searched, claiming innocence. However, tensions escalated when one suspect pulled out a knife and another drew a firearm, firing a shot aimed at Mr Ncube. The bullet missed, and the attackers fled into the darkness.
“I still can’t believe how the bullet missed hitting me. The guy just pulled out a gun and fired a single shot aimed at me,” Mr Ncube recounted, adding that he suspects the trio had just committed a robbery in the area.
This latest attack comes amid a worrying surge in gun violence across Bulawayo. Just last week, Sergeant Abel Masava, a police officer, was shot and killed in nearby Tshabalala suburb while attending a crime scene. Sgt Masava was shot in the head after approaching a group of five men, one of whom opened fire without warning.
The Nketa shooting has heightened fears among residents already anxious about the deteriorating security situation.
“We are no longer safe when armed men are roaming around in our streets at night,” said Mr Golden Gadzirayi Nyambuya, a Nketa resident. “Neighbourhood Watch Committee members patrol the suburb voluntarily, and now their lives are in danger.”
Mr Prince Manditerera, Secretary of the Nketa 8 B2 Square Residents Association, has called for immediate police intervention.
“The presence of an armed police officer would act as a deterrent to these thugs. Right now, our neighbourhood watch members are risking their lives patrolling the area without any means to defend themselves,” Manditerera said.
He urged authorities to implement tougher measures to curb the surge in gun crime, including stricter gun control and increased police visibility in hotspots.
“We appreciate the work that the police are doing, but we need a stronger partnership to combat crime,” he added.
Bulawayo has in recent months witnessed a spike in armed robberies, with fuel stations, homes, and small businesses frequently targeted. Business owners have responded by shortening operating hours and ramping up private security.
Earlier this month, six armed robbers were shot and killed by police detectives at a tollgate along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road after they robbed a grocery store in Juba, Insuza.
As the city grapples with the escalating violence, residents say they are left fearing for their lives and demanding urgent action to restore safety to their communities.-Ziana