9 residents arrested for demonstrating against council

NINE Masvingo residents were on Tuesday arrested and detained overnight at Masvingo Police Station after they staged a demonstration denouncing council for poor service delivery.

The residents were also protesting levies imposed on informal traders operating close to the railway station.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) spokesperson Kumbirai Mafunda confirmed the incidents yesterday saying the residents were members of the Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers' Trust.

"The police intercepted and arrested the Masvingo residents, who are affiliated to the Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers' Trust, as they led other residents in challenging the levies imposed by Masvingo City Council," Mafunda said in a statement.

He said council recently imposed levies of $2 per day instead of an affordable trading levy of $1 daily for informal market traders operating close to the railway station. The nine residents are being represented by Phillip Shumba a member of ZLHR.

Masvingo acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said he was unaware of the residents' arrest.
"I have not yet received that report. I will have to check for you," Nduna said.