ZANZIBAR police have announced a decrease in human-related crimes in the Isles by12.8 percent, from a total of 1,116 reported cases in 2024, to 1,280 cases reported in 2023.

Zuberi Chembera, the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Zanzibar, made the statement on Thursday during a security assessment meeting, which covered the period from January to December 2024.

Chembera mentioned that the crimes addressed and reported at police stations included murder, rape, sodomy, and other offences. He reported that, for January 2024, there were 829 cases of rape, compared to 927 in 2023, marking a decrease of 98 cases, or 10.6 percent.

Additionally, from January to December 2024, a total of 217 sodomy cases were reported, compared to 309 cases during the same period in 2023, which represents a decrease of 92 cases, or 29.8 percent.

However, crimes related to murder saw an increase. From January to December 2024, 66 murder cases were reported, compared to 44 in 2023, reflecting an increase of 22 cases, or 50 percent. Chembera stated that many of the murder cases were a result of citizens taking the law into their own hands.

Regarding property-related crimes, 1,855 cases were reported from January to December 2024, compared to 1,585 in the same period in 2023, showing an increase of 270 cases, or 17.0 percent. He also reported that 823 cases of property damage were recorded in 2024, compared to 833 in 2023, reflecting a decrease of 10 cases, or 1.2 percent.

“From January to December 2024, a total of 370 cases of livestock theft were reported, compared to 244 in the same period in 2023. This marks an increase of 126 cases, or 51.6 percent,” Chembera said.

Concerning crimes related to social ethics, 174 incidents were reported from January to December 2024, compared to 176 in 2023, showing a slight decrease of 2 cases, or 1.1 percent. The majority of these cases involved drug abuse.

However, from January to December 2024, a total of 302 incidents involving tourists were reported, compared to 181 in 2023, representing an increase of 121 incidents, or 66.8 percent.

DCI Chembera urged regional police commanders and officers to intensify efforts in preventing crimes such as murder, motorcycle theft, livestock theft, crimes against tourists, and road safety violations—all of which have risen in 2024 compared to 2023.

He also encouraged them to collaborate with the community, security forces, and criminal justice institutions in the execution of their duties.