Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Peter Matambanadzo
3 December 2008
Harare — GOVERNMENT has strongly warned those behind the violence perpetrated by rogue soldiers who have been beating up illegal foreign currency dealers and looting shops in Harare since last week saying the coincidence of the incidents and the call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations raises a lot of questions.
Groups of unarmed soldiers in full military gear started beating up suspected illegal foreign currency dealers and seizing their money as well as mobile phones on Wednesday last week after failing to access cash from banks.
They also targeted illegal foreign currency dealers at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in Mbare and Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza.
On Monday this week, the largest group of soldiers -- numbering about 100 -- who had failed to withdraw money from various banks in the city went on the rampage, attacking suspected foreign currency dealers along Chinhoyi Street and looting shops.
The group also attacked suspected illegal foreign currency dealers at Ximex Mall before stoning buildings, including Herald House and an Econet Shop in the First Street Mall.
Popular clothing shops such as House of Kumali, Country Road and Brenton along Jason Moyo Avenue also fell victim to the rampaging soldiers.
Infuriated suspected foreign currency dealers engaged the soldiers in a war of stones before joining them in the looting spree as the group stampeded along Jason Moyo Avenue towards Fourth Street bus terminus where they were dispersed by alert policemen.
Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Defence Minister Cde Sydney Sekeramayi said the incidents were being investigated and those found culpable would be brought to justice.
He said measures had been put in place to ensure that such acts of violence would not recur.
The minister was flanked by the Commanders of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Phillip Sibanda, Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena, Police Deputy Commissioner-General (Operations) Innocent Matibiri and other senior officials from the President's Office and Cabinet.
Cde Sekeramayi's condemnation comes after two top army officers -- Chief of Staff Major-General Martin Chedondo and army spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Tsatsi -- castigated the behaviour of the soldiers saying the army did not tolerate such behaviour, which he described as an act of mercenarism.
The minister said during the last five days, Harare had experienced disturbances perpetrated by unruly elements from the defence forces.
"As a result, a number of properties were damaged, innocent people injured, money, and property stolen. These acts are unacceptable, deplorable, reprehensible and criminal," Cde Sekeramayi said.
He said the incidents would be thoroughly investigated and those responsible would be brought to book.
Cde Sekeramayi said it was regrettable that these incidents coincided with a call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and some anti-Government civic organisations.
"The coincidence of the above-stated incidents and the call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations raises a lot of questions. While it is the right of citizens to demonstrate, it must be done within the context and confines of the laws of this country," he said.
He said the security forces had already put in place the necessary measures to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevails and that peace-loving citizens are allowed to carry on with their normal activities without fear.
"Let me also emphasise that those who may try to incite some members of the uniformed forces to indulge in illegal activities will equally be found culpable," he said.
He urged all Zimbabweans across the political divide, social affiliation or ethnic groups to shun violence, desist from the destructive actions and allow the political process to follow its course in peace.
Cde Sekeramayi said the defence forces and other security forces have a mandate to protect citizens and would continue doing so without fear or favour.
He commended the vast majority of the defence forces for the discipline and loyalty they continued to observe despite the serious challenges the country was going through.
Lt-Col Tsatsi said some arrests had been made but was yet to establish the numbers last night.
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As Mugabe likes to remind us, under Ian Smith, whites ate steak while blacks ate sazda.
What he does not like to see mentioned is that, under Mugabe, Mugabe eats steak, the other "war heroes" eat sazda, and everyone else in Zimbabwe eats dirt.
anD AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THERE WAS FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE NO ONE STARVED AND HOSPITALS WERE NOT CLOSED WHILE IN NEIGHBOURING ZAMBIA THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF FOOD WHEN THE BORDER BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND RHODESIA CLOSED AND ALL WE HAD WAS BASHED UP CANS OF CHINESE FOOD AND BUTCHERS WERE EMPTY
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and until then, Mugabe's thug will rape and pillage the nations coffers, and the poor will suffer. There's a reason why Zimbabwe is the 14th most corrupt in the world.
what we "Africans" MUST realized is that there's greed up in the Air by some of this racist and neocolonist who don't want to see any good leaders for Africa. Let's take one, the rescent president of South Africa in which the true behind his dismisser as president was NEVER told. Africans should STOP playing with fire and face their reality or else that countinent "Africa" will Never develop. And if you ask me why; that's just how they racist and neocolonists of the western world want it to be. They want Africa to be their bread basket and dust bin. If these same people happen to win in Zimbabwe, they can doing it to ANY Good African leaders by doint to them the same thing or worst; and what that tells you? We Africans are FOOL. Also, it means will Africans are still face with the darkness and don't able to make better decission for our countinent. If that happen what a shame for zillion of years to come!!!!For this sake; Please remember good African leaders like Oboti, Julius Nyerere etc who such a thing or worst have happened to them. Let's stop being FOOL of ourselves, AFRICANS!!! Africans MUST dig thoroughly into anything and fine the truth brought about our countinent that's/are brought to us by these racist and neocolonists. My last question's this: where is the patriotism for Africa in terms of development, education, love for each africans, all the positive sides? Have you ever seeing a positive side of an African in a Western World? Have you? Though there are many, you will NEVER see such aa outstanding comment giving from the Western World about an African if NO European is involve. Please let's becareful of what Africans do to each other.
Your brother in Christ and Allah,
The talk about Ian Smith and his Rhodesia subjects does nothing to Zimbabwe nor it's future. Few people in Zimbabwe can relate to Ian Smith and his regime. Most people who were in their twenties or less during his regime either do not care who he is or view him as an oppressor. Hey, "Rhodes" I hear you, but I really do not care about Smith. Smith claimed once that entire villages would attend his funeral, that usual wishful thing! Alas, Smith died a lonely man in a nursing home in SA. With Smith, the question of race, land, imperialism always comes into play. I would rather focus on what is happening now. Smith in all his rule never at anytime recieve the majority vote. Exclusively, all people who voted for him were white at less than 200,000 of that group. That in Zimbabwe would be running in fifth place. Let's not talk about that dead "Ian Smith" white anglo" dictator
Even Field Marshall Idi Amin had "professors" defending him to his last days as the Life President of Uganda, all in the midst of decay and death. Whatever these people profess, it must be sick and grotesque stuff.
There is decay and death all over the world.
And your point is?
Professors have been heavily involved in giving economic advice to the President in the USA and the PM in UK. Result: The current worst financial meltdown in USA since the World War 2.
We have western and Asian economies now in recession - widely believed to be a depression.
Do you suggest that village idiots were advising President Bush - so a to avert economic disaster?
Well. Maybe you have a different take on things: Whoever - professor or not - that advised Al Hajji Idi Amin was bad. And you have no quarrels with the West and their current economic woes. Certainly you are not calling for Cde Mugabe to go for a total "regime change" in the Western countries ...
It sounds to me like a case of inferiority complex.
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