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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
VICE President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko is expected in Beitbridge today to assess the impact of the damage on key infrastructure in the wake of violent protests that rocked the border town last Friday. The VP will also interact with Beitbridge residents during the tour. Beitbridge District Administrator Mr Simon Muleya yesterday said VP Mphoko is expected to make an assessment of the situation and damage to property today. “We’re ready to receive him. He’ll tour and assess the damage in most of the affected areas especially roads and the Zimra warehouse among others. The demonstrators caused a lot of damage to major government infrastructure and private properties,” he said.
Mr Muleya said some people especially businesspeople had started repairing their properties. He said there was calm in Beitbridge after police managed to contain the situation.
Protesters, mainly cross border traders, vendors and other residents, went on a rampage looting shops and barricaded roads with stones and other objects to express opposition to regulations that remove a number of basic products from the open general import licence (OGIL).
The regulations tighten screws on the importation of basic commodities including food items, building material, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things. The protestors set on fire a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority warehouse, destroying property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
They also burnt four vehicles and damaged 35 others which were in the Zimra yard. Traffic lights and two Beitbridge town council vehicles were also smashed during the demonstrations.
Police have so far arrested 78 people in connection with the violence. Twenty of the suspects have since appeared in court charged with public violence and were remanded to July 20.
The police are still pursuing other suspects.
derick.khumalo