Armed police raid protesting suburbs at night
By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) retaliated to yesterday’s protests in south-eastern suburbs by storming houses at night and severely assaulting residents.
Riots broke out in Epworth, Hatfield, Mabvuku-Tafara and Ruwa when commuter operators protested against heavy police presence on the roads and were joined by angry residents.
The riots lasted hours as the police struggled to contain the rioters, who hit back at the law enforcers.
Epworth residents told Nehanda Radio on Tuesday morning that yesterday’s clashes resulted in the death of a toddler who was run over by a fleeing commuter bus, but this could not be immediately confirmed.
Police last night reportedly returned for door-to-door searches of houses in Epworth and some parts of Mabvuku and Tafara.
“They shouted that all the houses must be left open and those who defied orders were rounded up and severely assaulted.
“They were accused of having taken part in the protests on Monday and some were arrested while others sustained serious injuries,” said a councillor from Epworth.
He added that many people, particularly those known for opposition political activism in the area, fled their homes fearing for their lives.
Three truckloads of anti-riot police were deployed in Epworth alone, said another resident of the suburb which is a political hotbed.
Other residents said police fired their rifles in the air during the night raids.
They, however, said they had not seen any army deployments even though there was talk of an impending military clampdown in restless areas.
Police spokesperson, Charity Charamba, yesterday issued a statement confirming that “police officers have been heavily deployed to deal with any public disorder”.
She said they had the identities of people who were behind the latest wave of protests.
“As police, we have information and intelligence on the identities of some criminal elements which are behind the social unrest.
“We have put our monitoring teams in place and all perpetrators of violence will be arrested,” said Charamba. Nehanda Radio
