adminMunicipal Reporter
The Mupedzanhamo Market area in Mbare was yesterday still sealed off, with the police closely monitoring the situation to maintain peace and order.
Remembrance Drive and Cripps Road that pass through the area were still closed.
When our news crew visited the area yesterday, there were no vendors who used to make it a hive of activity, but a few vendors were seen milling around near the place at Mbare flats.
“We thought by the weekend we would be allowed to trade,” said Mrs Evelyn Mugacha, a vendor. “Authorities should bear with us, this is our source of livelihood.”
Another trader, Mr Tinashe Mangwenda, said since some of the culprits that orchestrated the violence had been arrested, the place should now be opened for business, of course under police watch.
“The same way the police are guarding the place, they should do so while permitting us to operate,” he said.
Mrs Stella Nganu remained optimistic of the opening of the market.
“My wish is that this time around they should allow us to operate inside Mupedzanhamo Market,” she said. “It is easy to control people in such a place, unlike outside the market. Also, there are sanitary facilities and access to water at the market.”
Mupedzanhamo Market area was sealed off recently following violent clashes that saw one Zanu PF cadre dying while some stalls and wares were burnt in the skirmishes triggered by CCC party’s space barons.
Several other people were also injured in the deadly fight.
The violence that erupted in Mbare comes as the opposition, civic society and some Western embassies have been trying to score cheap political goals ahead of the harmonised elections set for next year.
Online Reporter