(HERALD) Municipal police resume blitz on vendors

Municipal police resume blitz on vendors
Herald Reporter

Harare Municipal Police yesterday resumed their blitz to rid the streets of illegal vending and touting, three days after a vendor, Godfrey Tonde, was killed in skirmishes pitting vendors and council police in Mbare.

Yesterday morning, truckloads of municipal police officers were being deployed across the city and they could be seen patrolling Harare’s streets late into the afternoon.

Vendors and touts were keeping an eagle eye out for the officers, clad in green or blue overalls inscribed "HM" (Harare Municipality), although no violent clashes had been reported at the time of writing.

City spokesman Mr Leslie Gwindi yesterday confirmed that the municipal police officers were carrying on with their exercise after taking a break following Tonde’s death on Monday.

"We are working and we are continuing with our exercise," said Mr Gwindi.

Earlier in the week, Local Government Mini-ster Ignatius Chombo asked council to exercise restraint, imploring the city fathers to halt their blitz and find other ways of regularising vendors’ operations.

Council appeared to have complied with the request, but yesterday Mr Gwindi said they would continue the clampdown.

"We will hold our ground. We want to enforce our by-laws," he said.

Deputy police spokesperson Chief Superinte-ndent Oliver Mandipaka yesterday said the 22 municipal police officers picked up for questioning in connection with Tonde’s death were still assisting police with investigations.

Autopsy results, he said, would be available soon.

"There are no further developments on the case except that a post-mortem was conducted and I am still waiting for the results," said Chief Supt Mandipaka.

Mr Gwindi also said council was still awaiting the post-mortem results.

He said Tonde’s body was ferried to Mutoko for burial and the local authority had assisted with transport, a coffin and other expenses.

Tonde died on Monday while fleeing municipal police who were carrying out a blitz in Mbare as part of a citywide campaign to rid the streets of touts, vendors and other illegal activities.

Police sources have since revealed that Tonde was tripped from behind by an unidentified municipal officer during the chase.