Mphoko furious over Choppies attack

CHOPPIES Zimbabwe director Siqokoqela Mphoko says the violent behaviour by MDC-T youths who last week attacked the giant retail supermarket's security guard and vandalised a shop in Harare has potential to harm the country's investment potential.

The security guard, Precious Kutemauswa, was hospitalised after sustaining serious injuries at the hands of rowdy MDC-T supporters who ran amok downtown following an address by party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who called for the unconstitutional removal of President Mugabe from power.

The opposition supporters also disrupted traffic and harassed Harare Council workers confiscating their tools and splashing cement on several buildings, police reported.

"We're actually surprised why the MDC-T targeted our supermarket. Besides vandalising property, they attacked our security guard who was on duty," said Mphoko, the son of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

"As we speak he (security guard) is still nursing wounds with 14 stitches after being attacked with a bottle in the face.

"Fortunately he managed to roll under the shutters before his workmates closed the shop and that's how he survived.

"As Choppies, we condemn such violent behaviour. Choppies doesn't discriminate its customers on political grounds because money is neutral. We're bitterly disappointed though, that a demonstration purportedly against economic failure and unemployment is used as a platform to attack businesses that create employment."

Mphoko said Choppies was one of the few vibrant local companies in the country that were driving employment creation through fresh investment and creating synergies with domestic producers.

"We've been identifying closed firms and re-opening them yet we get our people attacked by supporters of a political party. Are we being attacked for assisting in economic development?

"The branch in question, at the intersection of Cameron Street and Robert Mugabe Road, had been closed after Mashonaland Furnitures left. We renovated that place and created 57 jobs. It's a shock that we're trying to bring investors yet we've people who behave violently and attack businesses."

The police have also condemned the chaotic demonstration, which analysts say was a demonstration of disrespect for the rule of law.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba warned that law enforcement agents would not sit back and watch criminality as they have a constitutional mandate to protect life and property, maintain law and order, protect internal security of the country, prevent crime as well as detect and investigate crime.