SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
4 December 2008
At least 16 soldiers were arrested this week, with 10 of them still being detained for interrogation following Monday's rioting in central Harare.
The disturbances began last Thursday after frustrated soldiers failed to access their money from the banks. They went on a rampage, targeting foreign currency dealers, vendors and other innocent civilians. This week they upped the tempo, trawling through Market Square, Fourth Street, and the Road Port regional bus terminus, assaulting civilians, looting shops and beating up riot police who tried to intervene.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told the state owned Herald newspaper that of the 16 soldiers arrested, 6 of them beat up people, while the other 10 were accused of looting shops in the city centre. 'Since we launched a joint investigation, which includes the military and the police, to look into what has happened, we have picked up 30 soldiers and screened them, leaving the 10 we have an interest in,' Bvudzijena said. On Tuesday the military police transported large sums of money from the different banks to the army barracks, to pay the soldiers, get them out of the bank queues and stave off further riots.
The government has tried to blame the opposition for the soldier's rampage, saying it coincided with anti-government protests organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. On Wednesday the trade unions demonstrated against the cash withdrawal limits imposed by the central bank, but deny inciting the soldiers to riot. Analysts expressed worries that the accusations made by Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi were a precursor to pre-planned attacks and harassment of opposition activists. More importantly many believe Mugabe is desperate for an excuse to declare a state of emergency that will allow him to rule by decree.
Meanwhile despite the Reserve Bank announcing new Z$10 million, Z$50 million and Z$100 million notes to go into circulation on Thursday, long queues persisted throughout the country at most banks. The state owned Herald newspaper announced the raising of cash withdrawal limits to Z$100 million a week for individuals and $50 million for company account holders.
But the cash shortages continue and on Thursday our correspondent Lionel Saungweme in Bulawayo reported on how anti-riot police assaulted bank clients at Founders Building Society in the city on Thursday, after disturbances over the lack of money.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 SW Radio Africa. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
