Soldiers thrash villagers

, went on the rampage last week assaulting villagers at Ntabende rural service centre whom they accused of beating up their colleagues during a brawl.
Several villagers were injured during the retaliatory attack.The soldiers were picked up by the military police earlier this week in Esigodini after they were positively identified by the victims during a parade held at the barracks.
“We were all called for a parade at the Barracks on Sunday which is about seven kilometres from the village where we identified about 15 soldiers who were part of the crew that assaulted us. They were taken by the army police,” said Joel Ncube, the village head who was among the group of villagers who were beaten up by the soldiers.
Scores of villagers, including Ncube, had to seek treatment at Mater Dei Hospital and other major hospitals in Bulawayo as a result of the beatings.
Army spokesperson Colonel Solomon Tsatsi refused to comment on the arrest of the soldiers referring ZimOnline to the regional spokesperson in Bulawayo.
The regional army spokesperson, Captain Mhizha, who is based at Brady Barracks in Bulawayo said: “All I can say is that we have launched our own investigations into the matter.”
President Robert Mugabe, whose government is battling its worst economic recession since independence 27 years ago, has in the past unleashed the army on defenceless citizens to crush dissension against his rule. – ZimOnline