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A STAYAWAY called for
yesterday by the National Constitutional Assembly to protest against Government
policies flopped after workers reported for work as usual despite stone throwing
in three Harare suburbs.
While the situation was normal in the country�s towns and cities � with factories and businesses opening and commuters streaming in to work � there were attempts by some rowdy youths to stop commuters when they stoned vehicles and barricaded roads in Harare�s Glen View, Budiriro and Mabvuku suburbs. There was heavy police presence with roadblocks on major roads into Harare city centre while riot police, some armed with teargas, batons and guns, patrolled high-density suburbs. A helicopter was also deployed in Harare and Chitungwiza to assess the situation. Zimbabwe will host the cricket world cup matches beginning on February 13 and the NCA said it was against the country playing host to the games. The organisation said it had planned a series of demonstrations before, during and after the world cup matches. Last month, the NCA called for another stayaway which was however, ignored by workers. Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said while things were generally normal, there were reports of stone throwing by some youths in Mabvuku and Glen View and 11 vehicles were damaged. In Glen View, the officer-in-charge of the area, Inspector Peter Magwenzi said three suspects were arrested following incidents of car stoning. He said several vehicles including two Zimbabwe United Passengers Company buses were stoned by some youths. The chief executive of Zupco, Mr Bright Matonga yesterday confirmed that two buses were damaged in the early hours of yesterday. "We are yet to evaluate the damage but I inspected the buses today they were extensively damaged," he said. One of the buses, which was on its way to drop off some drivers stopped along Willovale Road after the driver noticed that the road was barricaded with stones. Some youths appeared and started stoning the bus. Another Zupco bus that was hired by a company in the Willovale industrial area was also stoned. One motorist also sustained minor injuries after his vehicle was stoned at around 1am yesterday along Willovale Road. Insp Magwenzi said a police Defender vehicle that had been patrolling in the area was also stoned by some youths chanting MDC slogans. Several motorists travelling along Bhinya Road in Budiriro also had their vehicles stoned. There were transport problems in some suburbs in the morning but the situation later improved as most commuter omnibuses began plying their routes. Drivers wanted to make sure that police were guarding their routes from thugs before risking their vehicles. Kuwadzana suburb, where one person died and seven others were injured when suspected MDC activists petrol-bombed a Zanu-PF office on Monday night was generally quiet. Police Inspector Wilbert Mashuro said they had agreed with businesspeople in the area to close early to enable them to maintain peace. "We have deployed the whole suburb with police officers and so far there are no reports of violence," Inspector Mashuro said. Most workers who spoke to The Herald said they were fed up with the stayaways, which did not address their plight. "I have a family to look after and it would be unreasonable to have my hard earned cash deducted for the cause of a few individuals," said one worker. The Mulindwas
communication group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" |
