Source: ZRP to build four police stations in Bulawayo | The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police is set to establish four more police stations in Bulawayo, a move that is expected to bolster law enforcement in the city.
The new police stations will see another police station being built in the city centre, two camps being built in Emganwini and another one in Magwegwe, which previously had a temporary post.
According to a Bulawayo City Council report, the local authority has already endorsed a resolution for the purchase of the land where police stations will be located, which includes one that will have accommodation units for the officers.
In Emganwini, the police will establish a station and also a residential police camp. To accommodate the camp the local authority has resolved to change a site that was previously designated as a cemetery.
“The acting Director of Town Planning (Mr Wisdom Siziba) reported that this report sought to re-offer the Zimbabwe Republic Police stand number 6339 Emganwini as per an application for the same dated 30 December 2021 received from the Provincial Quartermaster, Chief Inspector J Mudzemba.
The cemetery site as depicted on layout TPD 283/2 be rezoned to Police camp. The stand be transferred to Government by debiting Government’s 10 percent commonage entitlement. It should be noted that the Council resolution was implemented however, the applicants did not finalise the process hence this report,” reads the council report.
The stand measures 35 hectares. Police also got a further 11 hectare stand in the same suburb where they will establish a police station.
“An application to purchase land for a police station in Emganwini suburb had been received from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The proposed site was located at the intersection of Plumtree Road, the proposed portion of Bulawayo Drive which was yet to be constructed.
The piece of land now known as Stand 6806 Emganwini measured 11 hectares in extent as depicted on diagram TPA 7376.This piece of land was considered adequate to accommodate all the needs of a police station.
The piece of land was set aside for a police station in terms of the layout covering the area,” reads the report.
The local authority noted that the police station was set to benefit the community and would be a welcome development to the residents of Emganwini as the suburb currently had no police station with the nearest police station currently being Nkulumane police station.
In the city centre, the new police station will be established at the corner of Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue and Basch Street.
“It would be recalled that Council resolved that the application by the ZRP for a site on which to build Bulawayo Central Police station be approved and site- approximately 4.47 hectares- as shown on plan TPA 3362 be transferred to the Government as 10 percent Commonage Land entitlement less approximately 6 860 square metres being the sum of land required by council from McKeurtan and Lotshe Primary schools for purposes of widening Basch street.
“This area is approximate, the exact area being dependent upon final survey. Council further resolved that the ZRP be offered about 3.10 hectares of a land in the first instance and that the remaining 1.37 hectares be made available to ZRP when the development of Basch Street up to Lady Stanley Avenue is complete and when the hatched portion of Lady Stanley Avenue within this side has been closed,” reads the report.
In Magwegwe the police will purchase a 3.2 hectare stand for ZW$160 million plus an additional ZW$28 million being 17,5 Value Added Tax for the stand.
The site shall be used, inter alia, for a charge office complex inclusive of holding cells, 155 housing units for the police personnel, a parade yard, sporting facilities, recreation hall and a canteen.
