Congestion fuels crime on Haskins Street

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Tuesday June 22, 2010 00:00

'We have seen a rise in crime such as shoplifting, cellphone thefts, pick-pocketing and illegal money dealings because of the congestion on this street,' said Superintendent Mokuedi Mphathi, Central Police Station commander.

Mphathi, said the main attraction on this street are Chinese shops that sell cheap goods, and are frequented by many people including Zimbabweans.

He indicated that police have arrested 63 people in a just completed two-day operation aimed at reducing crime in this area. In the operation, Mphathi said they targeted illegal vendors, barbershops that operated without licences and illegal immigrants, as well as unlicenced shops. About 15 of those arrested were illegal immigrants.

Haskins Street has become the ever-busy street in the city of Francistown. People are always in a hurry, some carrying heavy loads on their heads while others will be hastily loading goods into vans.

It is quite common for people to stumble into each other as they walk along this street. Situated on the western side of the main mall, the street runs parallel to the railway line that runs from Francistown to Lobatse.

On the other side of the street, near the fence that barricades the railway line, young men can be seen dancing to the shattering beats of music engulfing the whole rank. The music comes from vendors who will be competing to promote their assortment of music CDs. This sound is often accompanied by the overbearing shrill of taxi horns and the guttural blare of motor-vehicle engines bullying their way through the one-way street.  All this commotion begins in the morning when it sounds businesslike, but as night falls, the street becomes as quiet as a graveyard. Keneilwe Suwe, who is a vendor on this street said although the congestion of people in this street presents them with good business opportunities, it has also led to the escalation of crime.

She also noted that illegal foreign currency dealings are rampant in this area.

In the past, the government threatened to cut down the number of Asian shops that dominate the streets of Francistown.

This decision was met with criticism from members of the public who felt that it would negatively affect the ordinary Motswana, especially those grappling with the cruel hand of poverty.

Some people argued that they can now afford to buy household goods and clothes that were beyond their reach before the Chinese opened shop.

With an estimated population of 83,000 people, the city of Francistown is said to have over 50 foreign-owned shops that sell a wide range of goods, including clothes and furniture.