Blitz on shebeens, brothels nets 11

By Thupeyo Muleya POLICE here yesterday raided several houses used as shebeens and brothels and arrested 11 people. Most of the houses are in Duliba-dzimu where illegal booking houses and brothels have sprouted over the past few years. Several houses in the border town have been turned into brothels with the owners cashing in on demand for accommodation by commercial sex workers. According to the 2002 population census, the town had a population of 22 387 and an estimated 2 570 houses in formal settlements, primarily for Government officials and middle-level private sector staff, and 3 000 informal structures. This has since increased due to the town’s proximity to South Africa and the hive of economic and commercial activity in the border town. The police officer commanding operations in Beitbridge District, Superinte-ndent Muzamo Bhebhe, said the exercise started on Tuesday. He said they were targeting operators of unlicensed drinking places, criminals and premises used by com-mercial sex workers. "Some notorious criminals use brothels as safe houses. "The local authority has also given us a vehicle to use in some of the night raids. "To date we have arrested 11 suspects, most of whom are shebeen operators, and they will soon appear in court for contravening provisions of the Liquor Licensing Act," he said. Published by, The Herald 30 July 2010 www.herald.co.zw