Police assault vendors and travellers at Entumbane Bus terminus

By Tererai Karimakwenda
27 March, 2007

On Monday armed riot police are reported to have attacked vendors and travellers waiting for buses at Entumbane Bus Terminus in Bulawayo. Our correspondent on the ground said no-one had provoked them. It is not known how many people were injured or whether anyone sustained serious injuries. But our contact said vendors were very upset because the police confiscated their goods and there is no way to recover the loss. The place was reported to be littered with sugar and cooking oil, some of which they accused the police of taking for their own personal use.

Our contact also reported that there is tension at the bus terminus because the government has diverted long distance buses that normally go to rural areas, and they are now servicing the urban routes for less than half the fares charged by minibus operators. It is believed this is a deceptive move by the ruling party to try and gain votes in the local government elections scheduled for August. The minibuses cost Z$5,000 per trip from the high-density suburbs compared to Z$2,000 for the long buses. Train service has also been introduced to cover some areas.

Our correspondent chose to remain anonymous fearing he may be harmed by state agents who are believed to have infiltrated most pro-democracy groups in the country. He told us that people are being kidnapped at night in Bulawayo and the surrounding areas. They disappear for three to four days at a time and upon return many say they were detained at police stations and interrogated for long hours about their involvement with political activity.

Bulawayo is also reported to be tense due to the heavy presence of police on many street corners.