By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe recorded 489 922 criminal offences between April and June this year, representing a 14.3 percent increase from the 428 634 cases reported during the first quarter, highlighting a rise in criminal activity across the country.
The increase is recorded in the latest crime statistics that the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) released on Wednesday, which show a notable rise in reported offences during the second quarter of this year.
The statistics were compiled using data obtained from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Crime Report and Disposal System, and classified according to the United Nations International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS), adopted in 2016.
The framework provides a standardised basis for collecting, analysing and comparing crime statistics across different criminal justice institutions and jurisdictions.
According to the report, Zimbabwe’s national crime rate rose from 2 649.8 offences per 100 000 people in the first quarter to 2 979.2 per 100 000 population in the second quarter, reflecting an increase in the prevalence of reported criminal activity.
“Offences against public order and state security recorded the highest rate, at 2 081.1 offences per 100 000 population, up from 1 782.1 offences per 100 000 population in the first quarter,” ZimStat said.
The agency also said Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Matabeleland South recorded crime rates above the national average, with Harare emerging as the province with the highest incidence of reported offences.
“Harare recorded the highest crime rate, at 7 260.4 per 100 000 population, which was more than twice the national average of 2 979.2 per 100 000 population. Of the 489 922 total offences recorded during the second quarter, crimes against public safety and state security comprised the overwhelming majority at 336 638 cases, representing nearly 7 out of every 10 recorded incidents. Acts against property only formed the second largest category with 47 885 cases, followed by offences involving or intended to cause physical harm to persons, with 42 491 cases,” it said.
The report further indicated that 427 786 people were charged with criminal offences during the quarter, with males accounting for 89 percent of the total.
The overall charge rate increased to 2 644.6 per 100 000 population, compared with 2 260.1 per 100 000 population recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
Male suspects had a charge rate of 4 910.6 per 100 000 male population, significantly higher than the 553.3 per 100 000 female population recorded among females, meaning that males were charged at a rate nearly 9 times higher than their female counterparts.
Commenting on the findings, ZimStat director-general Tafadzwa Bandama said the country had recently experienced an increase in various forms of criminal activity, including theft, robbery, sexual offences, drug-related crimes and murder.
She warned that criminal activities continued to have far-reaching consequences for individuals, families and society at large, resulting in emotional, psychological and physical harm.
“In addition, acts of crime may result in tensions within families, financial losses, expenditures on private security measures, mental disorders and loss of life. At the Government level, resources spent on law enforcement and criminal justice come at the expense of social service delivery.
“To this end, the production of crime statistics plays a vital role in shaping policies and planning within the criminal justice system. Crime statistics reveal trends in criminal activities, enabling policymakers, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategic interventions to curb the rise in crime rates,” she said.
Bandama said reliable crime statistics were essential in assisting the government and law enforcement agencies identify emerging criminal trends, assess the effectiveness of existing interventions and formulate targeted strategies to improve public safety.
New Ziana
