Zimbabwe recorded a 4.6 percent increase in crime between July and September 2024, with nearly 206,000 cases reported, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT).
The total number of offences rose to 205,925, up from 196,796 in the previous quarter, pushing the national crime rate to 1,356.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1,296.5 in the second quarter. Bulawayo recorded the highest crime rate at 2,506.1 per 100,000 people, nearly double the national average.
Other provinces with above-average crime rates included Harare, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Mashonaland Central, and Masvingo.Crimes against public safety and state security were the most common offences, with 84,001 cases reported.
Property-related crimes, including theft, accounted for 48,566 cases, while 40,078 cases involved acts of harm or intent to harm individuals.
The country recorded 350 cases of intentional homicide, translating to a rate of 2.3 per 100,000 people. Assault and threats were the most frequent violent crimes, occurring at a rate of 171.9 per 100,000 people. Theft remained a major concern, with 34,330 reported cases and a crime rate of 226.2 per 100,000 population.
Drug-related offences totaled 1,398 cases, with a rate of 9.2 per 100,000 people, while fraud cases stood at 2,566. Sexual violence cases reached 3,243, while corruption cases remained relatively low at 64.
Among the most reported offences were non-injurious traffic violations, which totaled 83,732 cases, translating to a crime rate of 551.6 per 100,000 population.
During this period, 150,263 individuals were charged with crimes, with 89 percent being male. The overall charge rate rose to 990 per 100,000 people, up from 923.4 in the previous quarter.
The charge rate for males was significantly higher at 1,825.1 per 100,000, compared to 218.3 per 100,000 for females.
