Bulawayo (New Ziana) -There was pandemonium in the Bulawayo Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday morning as vendors clashed with armed municipal police officers who allegedly wanted to confiscate their wares.
Business was brought to a standstill as irate vendors toyi-toyed (a high stepping performance at protest marches or gatherings) to the Large City Hall which houses the offices of the mayor and town clerk, singing “Povo yaramba zvemadhisinyongoro” (the masses have rejected disorganisation).
Smooth movement of traffic was disrupted as vendors sang and danced in the middle of the streets.
Some of vendors who spoke to New Ziana said armed municipal police officers raided the Fife Ave vendor marts and started confiscating wares and produce, resulting in some altercations.
The municipal police were overwhelmed and made good their retreat to the City Hall in their trucks, with the irate vendors in hot pursue.
Some of the municipal police officers were however unfortunate as they were caught and assaulted with their own baton sticks.
The vendors were later addressed by their representatives, who told them to disperse and return to their working areas.
“Please go back to your workplaces. No one will disturb you. The only solution is to vote out all councillors because they have failed to represent us. Please behave, we don’t want people who disturb smooth flow of business and destroy property,” said a vendor representative.
Meanwhile riot police remained at the scene monitoring the situation.
New Ziana
