MAKING HAY DURING A ROBBERY PANDEMIC . . .Young guns eye security services sector big bucks

JOSEPH Rwabi says not a single wave of fear strikes his heart whenever he picks up his firearm and gets into an armoured car, ready to escort large sums of cash or valuables.

For Rwabi, a security guard at Allied Security, it is all part of a day’s work and putting life and limb on the line, protecting someone else’s wealth, is nothing extraordinary.

Perhaps, having worked for several security companies has insulated Rwabi from the fears that appear natural to the ordinary man and woman.

It is not farfetched to think that in the minds of citizens, who are accosted almost daily by headlines on street corners screaming about the daring exploits of armed robbers, that cash-in-transit security guards sometime seem to live lives whose storylines were ripped from Hollywood writers’ notepads.

Memories of that the heist in How Mine, were 11,9 kgs of gold were stolen are still fresh on most minds, and few people in Bulawayo will ever forget the day when armed robbers turned the corner of 11th Avenue and Fife Street into a high stakes street theatre, bringing the entire city to a standstill, as they laid siege on Fidelity Building.

It is that kind of life, where danger lurks in every corner, where bullets might accompany the next cash delivery, that Rwabi says he was designed for.

“Personally, I think we provide a service that’s needed because it prevents a lot of robberies in various industries, for example in banks, because we cannot rely on police only because they have a lot of other duties.

“I am not afraid of anything because when you’re looking for a job, you even take the risk into account. So, you have to be prepared for anything. Each and every job has its own risk, even in sport. I was trained and I have worked in so many security companies so I always feel secure,” he told Sunday Life in an interview.

Perhaps Rwabi is brave because when he steps out there, gun in hand, he has to be. After all, the robbery statistics in Zimbabwe over the past few years make for grim reading.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), Zimbabwe averaged 25 robberies per day between 2020 and 2021. While 9 364 cases of robbery (931 armed) were registered in 2020, 9 515 similar cases (1 120 armed) were recorded the following year.

According to Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the picture has got even bloodier in 2022.

“From January 2022 to July 2022, robbery cases increased by nine percent and we arrested over 100 suspects and out of these, 28 were convicted. There are a number of factors leading to this spike. One of them is the issue of companies and individuals not banking money. Just imagine someone storing or keeping over US$1million in an office or someone keeping US$20 000 at home,” he said in an interview.

This spike in armed robberies however, has led to a corresponding rise in security companies, as individuals and companies scramble to protect their assets.

While most players are well established, having been set up over a half a century ago in some cases, younger people are also now eyeing the opportunity to bring fresh perspective and energy to what some might have snubbed as an old man’s game in the past.

According to security and CCTV expert Spenser Dube, it was inevitable that security companies would sprout as a result of the robbery pandemic.

“It’s a no brainer, really. With the current situation as it is, security companies have become a viable and lucrative company and young people want a piece of the cake.”

One such company is Allied Security in Bulawayo, which was established by businessman Bekezela Moyo after he was a victim of violent raids himself.

“I started the organisation when I was still in the mining industry. So being in the mining industry, I was heading the organisation on my own and as a young person I was vulnerable and being attacked constantly. So, my mine used to get raided and I have a big property as well, so people used to hire these illegal miners from as far as Silobela to come with axes and machetes. I got raided this one time and the story made it in the papers because this lady hired 50 people to do the job. I felt vulnerable and I thought let me beef up my security. As I beefed up, and I started paying their salaries, I ended up with maybe with 12-15 security guys. So, as soon as I realised that I have those kinds of numbers, I thought let me equip these guys and arm them. That’s how this whole thing started,” Moyo said.

According to Moyo, in its infancy, Allied Security, which was established last year, has leaned on the expertise of former service officers, who form a crucial part of its 60-strong ranks.

“For one to be able to a license or be able to be considered as a security company, you need to have two directors, who have got service history. Two of our directors are therefore two highly decorated retired police and army officers and some of our operations guys are ex-army or ex-police or war veterans and those are some of the guys that we put to head our operations. Those are the people that train the younger people that want to join our organisation. So, if you come, you will have to undergo training for a specific period of time so that you know protocol and work according to the Security Forces Act.

“What we have done so far, looking at the current environment in the country with the robberies taking place in the country, we have been working hand-in-hand with the police force and the army. Remember our organisation comprises of ex-army and ex-police officers who are complemented by highly experienced security officers who have been serving for more than 15-20 years. So, we work closely with the ZRP to try and observe the trends that are happening with crime in our community. We work hand in hand with the police in trying to eradicate these robberies and we act like their reserve force of sorts,” he said.

Last year, there was an outcry when the ZRP revealed that some security companies were taking their clients for a ride, bringing toys to gun fights as they equipped their battleweary security guards with toy guns instead of the real deal. Moyo said Allied Security and other sprouting security companies fronted by young people, were instead trying to usher in a new era in the sector, bringing in High-Tec equipment and weaponry.

“Some of the cameras that we use are highly sophisticated and if we install the system, you can see the images on your phone from wherever you’ll be. If you’re on holiday, you’ll see what is happening on your property and it will notify you if there’s movement that is unusual. When we are doing event security, there are these drones which hover over the event and should there be an incident that is 50 metres away from you, say someone jumping over the fence, you will be able to see it from your office. As young people, we want to bring the latest technology and the latest firearms. I know my older directors would like us to use an old gun like the 303 but I like a pump action that has got 12 constant firing bullets. Everything that we are doing we want to do it new and better,” he said.

With his company, which is set to provide event security at the high-profile Rick Ross gig in Harare next month, beginning to grow in profile, Moyo encouraged even more young people to join the sector.

“It’s imperative that we have black people leading in this industry. We need to have blackowned companies that compete with players that have been in the industry for a lot of years. Let’s start our own legacy. Personally, I believe there’s room for everyone. We came into the industry and we don’t want to be in competition with anyone but we want to take a piece of the action. We want to operate at the same standard or be better than what established players have been doing. I encourage other young people to start now. Don’t wait for tomorrow and don’t procrastinate, start now because this takes a long time to establish and the sooner you start, the sooner you get recognised,” he said.