TWENTY FIVE murders and 124 rape cases were reported in the first half of this month, shock police figures released on Friday reveal.
Over the same period, 18 armed robberies were reported countrywide, chief police spokesman Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said.
The sharp spike in serious and violent crimes has puzzled police.
"These cases were recorded between September 2 and 13 this month and we are concerned by this sudden increase,” Bvudzijena said.
On average, four murders are committed in Zimbabwe every week, Bvudzijena said, suggesting there had been a three-fold increase this month.
Bvudzijena said poverty and alcohol abuse were key factors in most of the murders which result from petty arguments over small sums of money.
“Mostly, these murders could have been avoided," Bvudzijena told the Herald.
Police are equally concerned by increasing sex attacks, mainly on juveniles, usually by their guardians. Most of the cases, Bvudzijena said, involved attacks on young girls left in the care of friends or relatives by their parents for extended periods.
"It is at this particular time that these girls are raped in most cases by persons who are known to their parents. We appeal to the courts to mete out deterrent punishments to those convicted of such offences," he said.
The highest number of sex attacks were recorded in Harare, Midlands and Mashonaland East, he added.
Harare had also seen the most armed robberies – eight in all – followed by Bulawayo and Mashonaland East (two each) while Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central reported one each.
Bvudzijena said some of the robbers were targeting taxi drivers, then using the taxis as getaway from crime scenes.
Some of the criminals were posing as police officers.
"Even if they are wearing police uniform, you must ask for their police identification particulars, which show the face of the officer, force number, rank, name, date of birth and international registration number," the police spokesman said.