Some vendors in Harare were also severely beaten up and had to be hospitalised at Parirenyatwa. The vendors were accused of selling Western propaganda to “innocent civilians” with the intention of toppling President Robert Mugabe, who has been at the helm since Independence in 1980. “They were burning independent newspapers,” said a shocked customer who ran away from the rowdy youths and sought shelter at Casa de Galinha Restaurant and Bar.
The youths were bussed into town from Mbare to complain to the authorities about unfairness in dishing out shops and business premises to foreigners, notably Chinese and Nigerians. But they started assaulting innocent customers while singing revolutionary songs about Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. “What is surprising is that they did not burn any state-controlled newspapers,” said the shocked resident, ” t seems they were only targeting independent newspapers.
When the rowdy youths gathered at the Zanu (PF) Harare Provincial Headquarters at around 8:00 am on Monday for the demonstration that the ZRP had sanctioned, they cited among their grievances the Government’s “alleged” snail’s pace in implementing indigenisation policies. Shop operators complained of huge losses, with some estimating them at up to $20,000 each as properties were vandalised and goods looted.
Zanu (PF) Harare Provincial Youth League Chairman, Jimu Kunaka, claimed unruly elements had hi-jacked the demonstration.
“We were infiltrated,” he told The Herald. “Once we realised that, we called off the demonstration. We do not know who the looters are.”
Post published in: News