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THEY allegedly made a living extorting vendors along Seke Road until the long arm of the law caught up with them.
Yesterday, the four men appeared in court for allegedly terrorising vendors at the open space adjacent Coca-Cola along Seke Road.
Ephraim Chizola, 40, Phanuel Savanhu, 46, Ashley Kutadzaushe, 32, and Joseph Meki, 37, were released on $30 000 bail when they appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
They will be back in court on April 17.
The State said some potato vendors went to Harare City Council to look for vending spaces to operate from.
The vendors were allocated the open space next to Coca-Cola, to operate from, using their trucks.
However, the four told the vendors that they were the ones in charge of the open space, and if they wanted to operate from there, they had to pay US$9 for each truck every day.
The court was told that the four threatened to disrupt the vendors’ business if they didn’t comply.
Due to pressure exerted on them, the vendors ended up paying the money to safeguard their business.
The State said the four have been collecting money from last year until they were arrested on Valentine’s Day following a tip-off.
Pardon Dziva appeared for the State.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter