mbulelo smpofu
Raymond Jaravaza, raymondjaravaza@gmail.com
THE shortage of tower lights in Cowdray Park suburb has made it a fertile ground for criminal activities such as muggings and robberies.
This has prompted city council members to call for swift action to address growing security concerns.
Tower lights are essential for illuminating large areas, such as highways, intersections, sports complexes and industrial zones. In Bulawayo, tower lights are crucial for visibility, particularly at night when people commute.
The ongoing electricity load-shedding crisis resulted in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) announcing plans in May to install solar-powered streetlights across the city to tackle power cuts.
On November 4, Inobubele Mhlanga (23), a student at Bulawayo Polytechnic, was fatally stabbed only moments after getting off a kombi in the suburb.
Cowdray Park has long suffered high levels of crime because the darkness caused by the lack of street lighting makes residents vulnerable.
The situation is so severe that in 2016, then Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Obedingwa Mguni, revealed plans to send more police officers to the suburb.
In recent memory, a gang of eight, armed with guns, launched an attack at TM Pick n Pay in the suburb, tying up a security guard before making off with groceries worth more than US$700.
In January of that year, Cowdray Park made news headlines after a gang of nine committed various robberies and rapes, with each member being brought to justice and sentenced to 629 years in jail.
The sprawling suburb, with a population of over 75 000 residents, reports the highest number of burglary cases in the city, followed by Hillside suburb.
The thieves are targeting electrical gadgets, including televisions, laptops, solar batteries, solar panels and household appliances.
Acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, blames underdevelopment in the suburb for the high rate of unlawful entry and housebreaking, which she says happens an average of three times a day.
The lack of tower lights is giving the criminals a significant advantage to attack residents at night, without fear of being caught.
Recently, the council revealed that they spend US$10 000 per month to keep the lights on in other suburbs, making the cost prohibitive. As a result, residents are urging the council to consider switching to solar-powered tower lights as a cost-effective solution.
Ward 28 Councillor, Ntando Ndlovu, revealed that the level of muggings in his ward has reached unprecedented levels at night and that immediate intervention is needed.
“Councillor Ndlovu indicated that they had requested for the erection of tower lights in Cowdray Park using their ward retention levy but to date, nothing had been done. He sighted that residents continued to be attacked in dark areas,” the council minutes state.
Engineering committee and Ward 29’s Cllr Roy Sekete said there was a challenge on street lights which had not been working for a long time. He said that new bulbs fitted lights never lasted long, as they were dysfunctional within two weeks.
Ward 14 Councillor, Dumisani Netha, also noted with concern the vandalism of tower lights. He said the metal bars supporting the towers were being cut off which resulted in the tower lights collapsing.
Cllr Ndlovu yesterday told the Chronicle that criminal activities continuously mount in Cowdray Park due to a lack of tower lights.
“The situation in Cowdray Park has become increasingly concerning, as parts of the area remain without adequate tower lighting, leaving residents vulnerable to criminal activities, particularly muggings and robberies during the night,” said Cllr Ndlovu.
“Some areas are experiencing the persistent issue of blown-out bulbs, while others still have incomplete lighting infrastructure. These dark spots, especially in high-traffic zones, are attracting criminal elements, and locals have expressed mounting fear for their safety.
“The lack of proper lighting in these areas has escalated security concerns, with residents urging immediate action to curb the rising number of incidents,” he said.
He said that the local councillor has raised the issue in council meetings, advocating for swift intervention to resolve the lighting challenges.
“We have requested that the retention fund be utilised to repair the existing tower lights, with an additional proposal to solarise them.
“The goal is to ensure sustainable lighting solutions for the area. Furthermore, we are actively pushing for the installation of solar-powered streetlights in key sections of Cowdray Park, utilising the ward retention fund. These measures aim to not only restore safety in our community but to also provide long-term, reliable solutions to the recurring lighting problem. Our primary goal is to eliminate the dark areas that have been hotspots for criminal activity to ensure a safer environment for all residents.”
