Harare Magistrate Remands 9 Vendors in Custody Amid Street Trading Crackdown

HARARE – Nine Harare vendors have been remanded in custody after allegedly throwing stones at municipal police officers during the ongoing Operation Chenesai Guta campaign targeting illegal vending. The accused are Regis Karavhina, 43, Mduduzi Ndhlovu, 27, Blessed Chinhema, 34, Tinotenda Muhlupeki, 24, Smart Mafuku, 30, Tatenda Pfuwai, 30, John Mahlangu, 24, Tsungirirai Sanito, 19, and Ezra Besamu, 17. They appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai, who remanded them to today for a bail hearing. The State alleges the violence erupted on September 26 when municipal police officers moved in to enforce the operation, which seeks to relocate vendors from pavements to designated trading areas. “At about 2.45pm, municipal police, travelling in a convoy of three UD trucks with about 80 officers, reportedly descended on the corner of First Street and Speke Avenue to enforce the operation,” the State said. The accused allegedly began inciting other vendors to resist the operation before stones were thrown at the officers. “One of the stones struck the fender of a Nissan Almera belonging to POTRAZ, causing US$200 damage,” the State said. Three of the accused were arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station, while the others allegedly regrouped and marched to Town House, where they continued shouting and denouncing Operation Chenesai Guta. Police were called in and arrested the remaining accused. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *