ZRP Battles 4% Surge in Armed Robberies Amid Resource Shortages

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has recorded a 4% rise in armed robbery cases between January and August this year, with authorities linking the surge partly to critical shortages of vehicles, manpower, and modern equipment needed to curb crime.

Appearing before the Defence, Security and Home Affairs Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner-General for Administration, Leny Ncube, revealed that while overall robbery cases declined by 8% during the same period, violent robberies involving firearms remain on the increase.

“Our assessment of crime trends between January and August 2025 compared to last year shows that general robbery cases dropped by 8%. However, incidents involving firearms went up by 4%, which is worrisome,” Ncube said.

He noted that the ZRP is responding within its limited capacity but warned that the shortage of resources was severely restricting effectiveness.

“Although government has supplied operational vehicles over the years, our fleet is ageing, and frequent breakdowns compromise our response time. Many times, criminals with fast, powerful vehicles outpace us,” Ncube explained.

According to his presentation, the ZRP requires 9,320 vehicles but only has 2,830. Out of these, 1,007 are out of service due to breakdowns, leaving just 1,823 in use—only about 20% of the required number.

Ncube also raised alarm over the sophistication of organised crime groups, some of which include former members of the security services. These syndicates are reportedly using cloned vehicles, intelligence counter-measures, and advanced technology, which leaves the police disadvantaged.

“We lack advanced tools to track movements of highly organised, transnational criminals. In this era where crime is increasingly technology-driven, adopting technology in policing is no longer optional but a necessity,” he emphasised.

To reduce the risk of armed robberies, the ZRP is urging businesses to adopt robust security systems.

“The police are progressively enhancing capacity through technology in both prevention and investigations. We are strongly advocating for the installation of CCTV cameras and alarm systems within the business sector,” Ncube said.