HARARE
–
Zimbabwe
recorded
a
marginal
rise
in
crime
during
the
second
quarter
of
2025,
with
321,640
offences
reported
between
April
and
June
—
a
3.5
percent
increase
from
the
310,876
offences
logged
in
the
first
quarter,
according
to
new
data
from
the
Zimbabwe
National
Statistics
Agency
(ZimStat).
The
national
crime
rate
rose
to
2,119
offences
per
100,000
people,
up
from
2,048
in
the
previous
quarter,
meaning
more
than
2,100
crimes
were
committed
for
every
100,000
residents.
Crimes
against
public
safety
and
state
security
dominated
the
statistics,
accounting
for
192,562
cases,
or
nearly
60
percent
of
all
recorded
offences.
This
category’s
rate
climbed
to
1,268.6
per
100,000,
up
from
1,172.1
in
the
first
quarter.
Acts
against
property
followed
with
49,691
cases,
while
acts
leading
to
or
intending
to
cause
harm
to
persons
totalled
39,569
cases
during
the
quarter.
The
data
also
show
wide
regional
disparities
in
exposure
to
crime.
Bulawayo
Province
recorded
the
highest
crime
rate
in
the
country
at
5,464.5
offences
per
100,000
people
—
more
than
double
the
national
average.
Other
provinces
with
above-average
rates
included
Harare,
Masvingo
and
Matabeleland
South,
reflecting
higher
crime
concentrations
in
urban
and
border
areas.
A
total
of
262,793
individuals
were
charged
with
criminal
offences
in
the
second
quarter,
up
from
earlier
in
the
year.
Men
accounted
for
88
percent
of
those
charged.
The
overall
charge
rate
increased
to
1,731.3
per
100,000
people,
from
1,662.6
in
the
first
quarter.
The
male
charge
rate
stood
at
3,164.1
per
100,000,
almost
eight
times
higher
than
the
407.5
recorded
for
females
—
a
trend
consistent
with
previous
ZimStat
reports.
Zimbabwe
has
in
recent
months
seen
a
surge
in
offences
including
theft,
robbery,
sexual
crimes,
drug-related
cases
and
murder,
prompting
renewed
concern
over
public
safety
and
law
enforcement
capacity.