In light of a recent incident of robbery at a primary school in Warren Park, Harare, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released a statement advising schools to be extra cautious and boost their security measures during the period when parents are paying school fees.
The incident occurred on a Tuesday morning, when six unidentified armed suspects stormed the school premises and held up the staff and parents present. The assailants made off with a considerable sum of money before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the event has raised concerns about the safety of schools and their students.
The ZRP has assured the public that they are taking the matter seriously and have launched a full-scale investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. They have appealed to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward and assist with the investigation. Meanwhile, schools have been advised to remain vigilant, employ additional security personnel, and install CCTV cameras to deter any potential threats.
Schools must take this advisory seriously and implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and staff. The ZRP will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the investigation progresses.
The ZRP urges school authorities to increase security and be alert as parents pay school fees. Where possible, parents are encouraged to deposit their fees through financial institutions to curb armed robbery cases.
Meanwhile, Police are investigating a case of robbery which occurred at Warren Park Primary School this morning when six armed suspects raided the school as parents were paying their school fees. The suspects went away with US$1 481.00 cash.
During the 2024 First Term, several schools across the country were robbed and lost tens of thousands of dollars.
On January 6, 2024, unknown suspects targeted George Silundika High School in Bulawayo. They stole US$17,280.00 in cash from a cash box.
Three days later, on January 9, 2024, 12 unknown suspects attacked security guards at Lomagundi College in Chinhoyi. They made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, a Mazda Tribute motor vehicle, cellphones, laptops, and other valuables.
Following the spate of armed robberies, the police urged schools to take the necessary steps to prevent further robberies.
Police urged school authorities to deposit all monies, including school fees and levies, at financial institutions, and also to employ guards from reputable security service providers who constantly monitor and review deployments.
