By Chipo Gudhe
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has called on Kwekwe City Council to urgently address the growing number of squatter camps in the city, warning that the illegal settlements are contributing to rising crime, particularly drug abuse and peddling.
Kwekwe District Operations Superintendent Terrence Majongosi made the appeal during the local authority’s recent strategic planning meeting.

He said the proliferation of squatters around the city was now a cause for concern.
“We have had an increase of squatters within the town of Kwekwe and we are appealing to city council to look into the issue of these illegal camps. These sites are causing an increase in crime especially drug and substance abuse,” he said.
In response, Kwekwe City Council Director of Housing, Edison Chiyangwa, assured stakeholders that the municipality will work with police to address the problem.
“On squatter camps we will look into the issue together with police to see how we can restore order,” he said.