The youths had gathered at the hotel waiting for transport to ferry them to the ongoing provincial MDC mini-congress in the city.
Anti-riot police armed with AK47 riffles and wielding button sticks sealed off the entrance to the building and adjacent car park.
Three male youths who had reportedly attempted to take photos of the goings-on using mobile phones were rounded and forced to sit on the ground by the details.
Some of the youths told The Zimbabwean that they pleaded with the police to release the female vendor woman they had been manhandling over an unclear matter, leading to a call for reinforcements and the sealing off of the hotel.
“We heard a loud scream of a lady from outside the building and we all ran to see what was happening. When we got outside, we realised that some police officers were harshly dragging her in the street and she was crying in pain.
“That is when we started pleading with the police to release her. During the incident, a truckfull of riot police arrived and we retreated into the hotel. That is why the police had to seal the entrance off the hotel,” said one youth who witnessed the incident but escaped the police raid.
Another eye-witness said the police seemed to have been provoked by the MDC regalia the youths were wearing.
“When the youths confronted the police who were dragging the screaming woman they were all clad in the MDC red regalia. That seemed to be the reason why their colleagues had to storm the hotel because they seemed to be provoked by the fact that youths from an opposition party were challenging them,” he said.
Gweru Urban MP, Sessil Zvidzai who later arrived on the scene, condemned the conduct of the police details, saying they ought to be tolerant.
“The youths only pleaded on behalf of the female vendor. That is not a crime. However, the police just got heavy-handed because the youths are from MDC. It’s not good,” he said.
An official from the hotel who refused to be identified said the incident would affect business.
Joel Goko, the Midlands provincial spokesperson was unavailable for comment on his phone.
Post published in: News