By Dex Crime Focus Reporter
The Open Secret Behind the Stalls: The Shadows of Consilla
If you are driving into Gweru from the Kwekwe road, the journey is usually defined by the anticipation of the city’s skyline. As you approach the Total Service Station at Consilla, just before the main roundabout that leads into the heart of town, everything looks like a standard suburban stop. Commuters hop out of kombis, and drivers pull in for fuel.
But if you take that turn-off to the right at the Total station, the atmosphere shifts.
Past the bustling roadside markets where vendors sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, a darker trade has taken root. Behind the colorful stalls and the noise of the traffic, a "hidden city" exists—one where the currency isn't tomatoes or onions, but substances that are tearing the local community apart.
According to local residents and frequent travelers, the area behind the Consilla markets has become a notorious hub for drug activity. "Maswera sei kuGweru?" (How is your day in Gweru?) is a greeting often met with a heavy sigh by those who live nearby.
"You see it every day," says one regular commuter. "It’s right there in the open, but tucked just far enough behind the stalls that passing motorists don't see the details. It’s a supermarket of drugs—everything from mutoriro (crystal meth) to illicit spirits and marijuana. It’s as if the market for food has been replaced by a market for addiction."
A Strategic Choice for Shadows
The location is no accident. Its proximity to the Kwekwe-Gweru highway makes it a perfect transit point.
High Foot Traffic. The constant flow of people at the service station and the roundabout provides a "human shield," allowing buyers and sellers to blend in with genuine customers.
Easy Access For those coming from out of town, it is a quick turn-off and an even quicker exit back onto the main road.
The "Backdoor" Effect. Using the back of the established markets allows the "drug lords" to operate under the cover of legitimate business activity.
A Community at Risk. The residents of the surrounding suburbs are the ones paying the highest price. With the rise of this drug hub, petty crime in the area has surged. Youth from nearby schools are often seen lingering near the "back-market," drawn in by the easy availability of dangerous substances.
"We are losing our children at the Total turn-off," says a worried parent. "We go there for fuel or to buy vegetables for dinner, but we are walking right into a den of criminals. It is no longer just a place of trade; it is a place of danger."
The Call for a "Clean Sweep"
The community is now calling for more than just a passing patrol. They are asking for:
Market Regulation. A thorough check of the structures behind the official stalls to ensure they aren't being used as drug dens.
Fixed Police Presence. Since this is a major entry point into Gweru, a permanent or frequent "stop-and-search" point near the Consilla roundabout could deter traffickers.
Digital Vigilance. Encouraging vendors—the ones who see everything—to use anonymous tip-off lines to report the specific "lords" running the trade behind their backs.
As the sun sets over the Kwekwe road, the lights of the Total station flicker on. For the drivers passing by, it’s just a fuel stop. But for the people of Gweru, it is a reminder that the fight for a safe city starts with shining a light into the shadows behind the market stalls.
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