Police identify children in viral video drinking beer in front of Harare shop

POLICE have identified two of the 10 minors captured in a viral video, drinking alcohol infront of a Harare shop on December 26.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said also identified were the two minors’ parents who allegedly separated in November last year with the mother taking custody of the children to live with them at Epworth suburb in Harare.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reports that the identity of two minors aged 13 and 11 years is now known. Their mother and father have also been identified and located. The father and mother separated in November 2022 with the two minors being taken into the custody of their mother in Epworth area, Harare,” said Ast Comm Nyathi.

It is alleged, said Ast Comm Nyathi, that the two minors later left home and engaged in street begging, vending and some misdemeanours in the Harare Central Business District with other “street kids”. On 25th December 2023, the two minors who were in the company of eight street kids obtained Mayfair alcohol through a person who is yet to be identified by the Police.

“The minors sat on the veranda of a cellphone shop along Inez Terrez near a prominent food outlet. They consumed the alcohol openly in public,” said Ast Comm Nyathi.

He said the police have also identified a local business person who recorded the viral social media video and is currently assisting the police to get full facts on the incident.

“The police is still pursuing the identity of the other minors who were in the company of the two and allegations are that there were some women who were seated at the corner of Speke and Inez Terez Street who interacted with the minors. It has also been confirmed that the minors were drinking alcohol while eating some chips and chicken,” said Ast Comm Nyathi.