Mbare violence has origins in commercial trading space allocation

Zimbabwe Peace Project has claimed that violence in Mbare Harare has its origins in the manner in which commercial trading space is allocated and leased by the bureaucrats in the Harare City Council (HCC).

The organisation said it often takes the identity of political violence because those in control of economic opportunities in the area are allegedly affiliated with the ruling Zanu-PF and allocate these resources and opportunities based on political affiliation.

"Economic opportunities are suspected to be used as an incentive or punishment by ruling party activists to coerce people into subscribing into the Zanu-PF membership. While it was clear violence is used at Mbare and most traders were living in fear, it was also clear that most of the vendors interviewed accepted to pay protection fees to continue operating and to access economic opportunities.

High unemployment rates have placed pressure on the demand for market stalls and trading space at the lucrative Mbare market-creating business for space barons who decide who trades at the market," reported ZPP.

"Millions of dollars are said to exchange hands at Mbare musika which comprises of a bus terminus, flea market, vegetable market and manufacturing section. The vast economic opportunities offered by the place have seen the emergence of terror gangs, some of which have suspected links to the ruling party collecting ‘street taxes' from traders and vendors either as protection fees or as contributions to the ruling party for various activities. A racket involving council officials at Remembrance House and other influential members of the community is alleged to be in charge of allocating commercial trading space."

ZPP said the leaseholders, in turn, are reported to employ Zanu-PF youths to collect rentals on their behalf and ‘maintain order' in the market.

"A vendor who talked to this research questioned how officials at Remembrance House afford the top of the range vehicles that are seen parked in the staff car park. One such group is the dreaded ‘Chipangano' but the leadership of the group is fluid and difficult to pin down. Chairperson Changara, Bernard, Terry Guns amongst other names emerged as leaders of the practice. Another group known as ‘Boko Haram' is also reported to be roaming the streets of Mbare collecting money from traders and violating people's rights," said ZPP.

"A number of gangs are loosely operating but all of them enjoying the protection of the ruling party leadership of District 3 in Mbare. To date this year the ZPP responded to and verified four cases of violence against traders at Mbare Musika. All of them were politically motivated. One of the victims who filed a police report said that traders are harassed and intimidated daily and are forced to attend ruling party meetings but they prefer not to report it because they fear being victimised."

ZPP said Zanu-PF youths often collect rentals on behalf of leaseholders of council property within the marketplace.

"HCC leases properties and space to some people who then sublet to informal traders at inflated rentals. HCC spokesperson, Michael Chideme said council does not allow subletting of its properties and would evict anyone found subletting. Party youths are engaged because they are feared and are able to intimidate, harass and violate the rights of traders with a degree of impunity as police do not act against them. Traders have to pay protection fees to these youths for the authorities to turn a blind eye on the illegal use of commercial space," said ZPP.

"Police officers who are called in when skirmishes break out are alleged to avoid arresting ruling party youths. In cases where these youths are taken in no action is taken and they are immediately released. In a matter reported to Mbare police RRB 3030122 where ruling party youths closed down a liquor store owned by a perceived opposition sympathiser and burnt down property, investigations have stalled despite the perpetrators being openly known in the community."

The organisation said the case has been transferred to Law and Order but the police officer assigned to the case was said to be away.

"The youths accused of the violence were allegedly mobilising $5 each to pay the police officers at Koffman in order for the supposed docket to disappear. In another case RRB 3042207 known gang leaders in Mbare affiliated to the ruling party disrupted a funeral but the police have asked the aggrieved family to drop charges. The gangs in Mbare, therefore, thrive on the impunity and reluctance of law enforcement to act against them. Some of the vendors and traders interviewed said soldiers and police officers also own tables in the flea markets which contribute to their reluctance to act," said ZPP.