Students nabbed at shebeen

POLICE in Masvingo last Friday night arrested 34 Great Zimbabwe University students after swooping on a popular shebeen that was allegedly slowly turning into a brothel in the city.

The shebeen, at Muswere Mansion along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, was turning into a haven of prostitution as female university students thronged the place soliciting for male customers.

The arrest of the students came as police in Masvingo launched a massive clampdown on shebeen operators to curb rising cases of prostitution and violence at night beer drinking spots.

Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna yesterday said police managed to recover beer at the shebeen.

Asst Insp Nduna said the students who were arrested had been released after paying admission of guilty fines.
"We arrested the shebeen operators for selling alcohol without an operator's licence, while the university students were arrested for drinking beer at an unlicensed premises," Asst Insp Nduna said.

"We also want to warn other shebeen operators that we will soon descend on them because we do not condone lawlessness. Those who want to sell liquor should get licences.''

The Muswere Mansion shebeen had become notorious for hosting parties for ladies that attracted students from the nearby university.

There were growing fears that the shebeen was slowly turning into a haven for crime, with the spot turning into a popular venue for foreign currency dealers operating along the nearby highway.