More than 60 vendors and youth leaders arrested at informal market

By Tererai Karimakwenda
15 May, 2007

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are reported to have descended on a group of vendors and youth leaders at an informal market near the Eastgate shopping centre in Harare on Tuesday. A statement released by the Zimbabwe Youth Movement (ZYM) said an estimated 60-80 vendors were rounded up and arrested. The police are charging them with selling products illegally on the black market. The ZYM leaders Collin Chibango and Wellington Mahohoma were also arrested and are being charged with inciting vendors to rebel against arrest.

According to Freeman Chari, secretary general of the ZYM, the youth leaders had gathered vendors at the informal market located in a car park across from the Eastgate Mall. He said they wanted to discuss their concerns and share ideas because many youth in the group and relatives are selling products on the black market. The informal sector has become the primary method of survival for most families in Zimbabwe as unemployment has risen to over 80%.

Chari said as they gathered armed police arrived in Defender trucks and began assaulting everyone present. Many products were destroyed as chaos ensued. The ZYM leaders tried to reason with police, asking why the authorities were arresting ordinary vendors who are trying to earn a living under a harsh economy. Their actions led to them being arrested.

Chari said it is not clear where the arrested were taken by the police. He added that lawyers have been at Harare Central police station trying to enquire about their whereabouts, but police have not been cooperative.

We were also unable to get comment from the police.