By Own Correspondent| Chitungwiza residents are living in fear following continuous night raids targeting especially youths following disturbances during the #Shutdown over fuel price increases.
Citizens who spoke to ZimEye from Unit A, D, H and E in Seke narrated how the soldiers and police details have made door to door raids fishing out especially young men including teenagers.
“They will be armed and when they knock on your door, if you delay opening it, they will break it down. They are also in the habit of indiscriminately assaulting everyone but men and boys are their targets.”
Another source from Zengeza 2 told of how a form 3 boy was picked up in the dead of the night by the security personnel.
“He was assaulted before they bundled him up in a truck in the middle of the night together with several other youths. We are fearing for our sons and husbands.”
Minister of state security Owen Ncube is on record attributing the stay- away and disturbances which rocked most major cities to opposition MDC, ZCTU and NGOs including the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Ncube described the acts of violence which occurred during the stayaway as “treasonous” adding that they were well coordinated attacks aimed at removing a democratically elected government.
He revealed that members of the security sector were firmly on the ground carrying out investigations aimed at bringing the pepetrators of the attacks to book.
Said Ncube:
“MDC Alliance has been responsible for inciting violence through social media and engaging in unlawful gatherings that have been held prior to and during these unrests MDC Alliance political leadership have over the past three months highlighted up acts of psyching up their members to commit acts of violence while addressing political rallies and on social media.
MDC Alliance’s democratic resistance committees DRCs and their para military wing The Vanguard have been responsible for carrying out highly organised criminal activities during these unrests.
These have been substantiated by the arrest of MDC Alliance officials such as Elvis Ruzani the councillor for Ward 32 Harare North who was part of a gang of 13 members who were arrested by the police along Harare Domboshava road while barricading the road and unwantomly stoning vehicles just to mention a few. Security forces have so far arrested more than 600 people in connection with these rioters acts. 214 of whom have already appeared in court.
The Vanguard is also responsible for the sustained efforts to break into police stations to steal firearms for use in furthering their criminal activities. The trail of destruction left by these rogue elements is a clear indication that the intention was to remove a constitutionally elected government through force. Looting of shops in most circumstances have affected ordinary persons and it is sad to note that some of these victims will never recover.”