MARONDERA - Hundreds of people who attended the just ended annual Agriculture Show here, fled for dear life as soldiers from Zimbabwes 2 Infantry Brigade fired blank bullets in a mock battle drill. (Pictured: Soldiers scared visitors to the Agricultural Show with their mock battle drill.)
Panic stricken people fled fearing a possible repeat of a recent live amour shoot out, which injured dozens of show goers in a similar exercise. Army mock battle drills were suspended for two years as government wanted people to forget the incident.
Since the shooting incident injured innocent and unsuspecting people, I have no reason to trust professionalism of the army. Imagine soldiers firing live bullets at a mob of unsuspecting onlookers. Such carelessness could not be forgiven or easily forgotten. It was a disaster, especially coming from armed people calling themselves a peoples army. People no longer had faith in soldiers given their cruelty and heinous crimes committed during the bloody June 27, 2008 rerun of presidential elections, said a visibly frightened resident, Marian Muchemwa (50) of Dombotombo.
Other people called on the army to change the battle drills since repetition of the same drills every year made the demonstrations predictable and boring.
We know both sides in a battle incur casualties. Why should we be treated to factious demonstrations which show only one opponent losing lives in battles year in year out. We want realistic mock battle drills worth our money, said Nelson Murwira of Rusike.
An officer at the army stand described the past shoot out which injured people as unfortunate and not premeditated.
Post published in: News