Vendors run riot

RIOT broke out in Harare central business district yesterday when vendors clashed with police who were removing them from the streets.

The running battles started at the corner of Simon Muzenda Street and Jason Moyo Avenue where vendors were told off the streets and then later regrouped and ganged up against the police.

The police had to use teargas and water cannons to disperse the rioting vendors who had resorted to using stones to attack the police.

One of the vendors who refused to be identified who operates at the corner of Rezende Street and Jason Moyo Avenue said they were countering police raids by regrouping.

"We were caught unawares by the police that is the strategy that they always use all the time to remove us from the streets.

"But we now have experience and we now know what we do to regroup ourselves."

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said law offenders will face the wrath of the law.

"The attacks on law enforcement agents are needless and uncalled for and the police will not allow such conduct or lawlessness to continue.

"We wish to state that action will be taken against such individuals. "Anybody caught on the wrong side of the law will only have themselves to blame.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to warn vendors who are resisting and attacking police officers and other law enforcement agents while they are performing their lawful duties.

"Some individuals are resisting and attacking police officers and police property/institutions after being requested to move out of the central business district.

"The police are simply assisting local authorities to clear vendors in view of the cholera outbreak," she said.