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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Sixteen illegal vendors, among them leaders of the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ), who were arrested on Tuesday on allegations of assaulting Harare municipal police, were yesterday remanded in custody to today for bail application.
NAVUZ chairman Stan Zvorwadza (46) and director Samuel Wadzanai (32) were arrested together with 14 others when they besieged Town House following confiscation by municipal police of illegal vendors’ wares in the central business district.
Zvorwadza and Wadzanai are jointly charged with Godknows Maboy (23), Farai Mashava (34), Winnet Mubaiwa (33), Kuda Madondo (42), Lucy Makunde (30) and Bongani Zvikaita (26).
Others are Ireen Kamwendo (32), Memory Kanyarira (32), Spiwe Wema (30), Innocent Machokoto (27), Tendai Dube (35), Tineyi Chikerema (24) Godfrey Chasi (29) and Grace Musa (45).
The 16 yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with public violence. They were remanded in custody to today for bail application after prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, with the assistance of Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo, opposed bail.
Through their lawyers, Mr Sharon Hofisi and Mr Jeremiah Bhamu, the vendors alleged that they were assaulted and harassed by municipal cops during their arrest.
Some of them said they sustained injuries and Zvorwadza showed the court his bruised neck which he claimed was due to the assault.
According to the State, the accused persons were engaged in running battles with municipal police during the ongoing exercise to relocate illegal vendors from streets in the CBD to designated selling points.
It is alleged the illegal vendors reacted aggressively by attacking the municipal policemen who were enforcing council orders to move the illegal vendors out of the CBD.
Reinforcements were called, resulting in the arrest of the accused persons.
Last week, 26 other vendors were arrested and three of them were denied bail and remanded in custody, while the rest paid fines and were released.
Online Reporter