Cops warn rowdy Byo youths

POLICE have issued a warning to juveniles following rowdy behaviour exhibited by some of them in Bulawayo, especially during the last weekend of the school holiday.

The juveniles who were drunk were a nuisance in the city centre on Saturday evening, blocking traffic and smashing beer bottles all over the place.

Ugly scenes were witnessed in the afternoon and evening as the teenagers descended on the city centre shouting obscenities while others urinated on pavements and sanitary lanes.

A group of visibly drunk boys and girls disturbed the flow of traffic along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street as they jumped in front of moving vehicles and danced in the middle of the road risking being run over.

Anti-riot police were called to restore order as some of the juveniles randomly attacked pedestrians. Some of the high school -going age teenagers threw missiles at motorists.

After being raided some of the juveniles responded by randomly hurling stones at passers-by and motorists thereby igniting running battles with the police that spilled into the Basch Street Terminus popularly known as Egodini.

Some girls were stripping on the streets, inviting cheers from the equally drunken boys.

Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said they would be taking campaigns against such behaviour to schools.

He warned liquor dealers against selling alcohol to children.

“We want to bring back sanity to the streets of Bulawayo. It is illegal to sell liquor to anyone under the age of 18. It is also illegal to sell any cough mixtures and any substances that are used for intoxication to children. Anyone who is doing this should be warned that the long arm of the law is closing in on them,” he said.

“We are getting worried about the behaviour of our children. We are calling for parents to participate and work with us to bring an end to this demon.”

Asst Insp Ncube said police will engage in campaigns around schools.

“We have been going around schools conscientising pupils on the dangers of mixing with the wrong crowds. We are taking our campaigns further as we will with effect from this week, engage parents and teachers as we hope to curb this crisis that the city is falling into,” he said.

Bulawayo residents who spoke to the Chronicle news crew expressed disappointment and disgust at the behaviour of some city juveniles. —@andile_tshuma.