Thousands of Zimbabweans flock into neighbouring countries on a daily basis in search of basic commodities that are extremely scarce at home. Zambia has been the most accommodating and rarely deports traders.
The state media in Harare accused Zambian soldiers and police of stealing from the Zimbabweans, and quoted a member of the Joint Operations Command (JOC), a grouping of security chiefs close to Mugabe, as saying they would take the issue up with Lusaka very soon.
The traders were rounded up at the resort town of Livingstone and dumped in the no-man’s land separating the two countries along the Zambezi River in the dead of night, state media said.
I can confirm that we received the deportees and recorded statements from them, said Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai. We are now going to take up the issue as JOC and find out from our Zambian counterparts what happened. We will also investigate the allegations raised by those who were deported.
But it warned that authorities in Harare might retaliate because Zimbabwe was also awash with informal traders from Zambia, who had been conducting their business freely for years.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who also chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has been one of the most outspoken African
leaders against the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.
Botswana, which last week announced that it had set up a temporary refugee camp for Zimbabweans fleeing the political violence, has also tightened the screws on its neighbour by banning the importation of fuel through its borders.
On Sunday, it reiterated its claims that it was being overwhelmed by Zimbabweans claiming political persecution at home.
Post published in: News