News / Local
Vendor collapses after assault by BCC cops
16 Dec 2017 at 09:01hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council security officers yesterday allegedly assaulted a vendor, leaving him unconscious as they raided illegal vending sites in the city.
An ambulance had to be called to take the vendor to hospital after the attack.
When the Southern Eye crew arrived at the scene, angry vendors were throwing missiles at municipal police officers at the corner of Leopold Takawira Avenue and Fort Street.
The officers ran for safety and hid in a building along Leopold Takawira Avenue as vendors bayed for their blood.
One of the vendors who managed to escape the raid said council cops always chase them, beat them up and throw their stock away.
"These Makokobas [council security officers] always chase us and assault anyone they apprehend. The council officials assaulted him [vendor not named], accusing him of being stubborn," he said.
"The assault continued until the vendor fainted and that is when his colleagues complained and started throwing stones at the officers, who fled the scene," the vendor said.
The vendor accused the council officers of violating their rights.
"We have rights as well and we need our rights to be respected. They cannot just beat us anytime they want. We are trying to earn a living through this, unless they want us to be criminals," he said.
Contacted for comment, Bulawayo Vendors and Traders' Association co-ordinator Michael Ndiweni said the organisation was very disappointed by the council's heavy-handedness.
He said his association would defend the traders at all costs.
Council chief security officer Thulani Dube declined to comment, referring Southern Eye to public relations officers.
Council public relations officer Bongiwe Ngwenya advised Southern Eye to send questions in writing and had not yet responded at the time of going to print.
Council officers, who have been accused of being heavy-handed when dealing with vendors, are carrying out a blitz across the country, targeting illegal vendors in central business districts as they seek to move them to designated vending sites.
An ambulance had to be called to take the vendor to hospital after the attack.
When the Southern Eye crew arrived at the scene, angry vendors were throwing missiles at municipal police officers at the corner of Leopold Takawira Avenue and Fort Street.
The officers ran for safety and hid in a building along Leopold Takawira Avenue as vendors bayed for their blood.
One of the vendors who managed to escape the raid said council cops always chase them, beat them up and throw their stock away.
"These Makokobas [council security officers] always chase us and assault anyone they apprehend. The council officials assaulted him [vendor not named], accusing him of being stubborn," he said.
"The assault continued until the vendor fainted and that is when his colleagues complained and started throwing stones at the officers, who fled the scene," the vendor said.
"We have rights as well and we need our rights to be respected. They cannot just beat us anytime they want. We are trying to earn a living through this, unless they want us to be criminals," he said.
Contacted for comment, Bulawayo Vendors and Traders' Association co-ordinator Michael Ndiweni said the organisation was very disappointed by the council's heavy-handedness.
He said his association would defend the traders at all costs.
Council chief security officer Thulani Dube declined to comment, referring Southern Eye to public relations officers.
Council public relations officer Bongiwe Ngwenya advised Southern Eye to send questions in writing and had not yet responded at the time of going to print.
Council officers, who have been accused of being heavy-handed when dealing with vendors, are carrying out a blitz across the country, targeting illegal vendors in central business districts as they seek to move them to designated vending sites.
Source - Southern Eye
