Police arrest over 400 for various offences in oppressive “Operation Valentine” in Harare

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 February 2006

The state controlled Herald newspaper reported Tuesday that at least 355 people were arrested for various offences in Harare over the last couple of days, in an operation code named "Operation Valentine". The paper said the arrests were part of a police campaign to thwart illegal activities in the city centre, but it is widely believed they were meant to block a Valentine’s Day march organized by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), and scheduled for Tuesday. A police Inspector Rupere told the state paper: "The operation is continuing until there is sanity in the city."

The Herald said police also targeted illegal vendors at undesignated spots who were in breach of council orders to stop selling foodstuffs. They confiscated several kilograms of pork and chicken worth over Z$17,5 million from a local businessman, invoking provisions of the Health Act and claiming foodstuffs were likely to spread diseases such as cholera. But witnesses told us everything from foreign currency, clothing and furniture were subject to seizure. Police details were reported to be waiting at bus terminals for people returning from Botswana and South Africa.

Many informal traders who lost everything last year when the government demolished flea markets and vending stalls were trying to recover, and this second blow could make that dream impossible. The timing of the arrests raised suspicion as the Valentine’s Day march had been advertised. There is also speculation that the police were under instruction to raise foreign currency.

On Saturday, 122 illegal foreign currency dealers were arrested at the Roadport Bus Terminus and police impounded more than $565,5 million, 1 800 Pula, 210 Rand and 2 000 Zambian Kwacha. According to The Herald, 120 people were arrested for vending, 148 for obstruction of pavements or traffic lights, 50 for touting, 5 for street garaging, 5 for dangerous parking, 2 for conduct likely to provoke breach of peace and 25 for public drinking.