Chronicle Editor
Esinathy Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
MOST business people whose shops were destroyed and groceries looted during last week’s violent protests, have started repairing the buildings and restocking.
Hooligans, mostly marauding youths, barricaded streets using drums, trolleys, burning tyres and stones during the three-day stay away called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and other civil society organisations aligned to the opposition MDC-Alliance.
Businesses lost goods and property worth millions of dollars after the violent protestors went on a looting spree and in some cases torched buildings after looting.
Supermarkets, service stations, butcheries, pharmacies, bottle stores and bars were targeted. Some motorists’ vehicles were set on fire. Most shop owners in Luveve, Entumbane, Nketa, Nkulumane and Pumula suburbs have started repairing their damaged shops and restocking.
Shop owners at Nhliziyo business centre in Entumbane were yesterday busy repairing doors and replacing window panes destroyed by the looters.
Cover Supermarkets in Luveve and Pumula suburbs have since opened after restocking. Another businessman, who declined to be named, said he lost all his stock worth more than $20 000 at a bottle store in Entumbane and was now struggling to raise money for repairs. “I need more than $5 000 for repairs. I lost television sets, a snooker table and refrigerators. The window panes were all broken and the burglar bars were removed,” he said.
Some business people however said they were appealing to Government to assist them to restock.
“I can’t raise money to repair my building and restock at the same time hence we are appealing to Government to assist us,” said a shop owner in Luveve who refused to be named.
Nearly 500 suspected looters have so far been arrested in Bulawayo and investigations are continuing.— @esinathy_essira
derick.khumalo