via Villagers disarm cops, burn vehicles – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 2, 2014 by Tatenda Chitagu
Thousands of protesting Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims resisting relocation of Chingwizi Transit Camp clinic to a new site earmarked for their resettlement yesterday reportedly burnt two police vehicles and disarmed anti-riot police officers in a second clash in two days.
On Thursday, anti-riot police in Masvingo fired warning shots to disperse the disgruntled villagers.
The villagers, who have been camped at Chingwizi Transit Camp since floods ravaged Masvingo in February this year, allegedly turned violent after another attempt by the government to move the clinic in a bid to force them to accept relocation.
They blocked vehicles carrying medical equipment and drugs from the camp saying the clinic should remain at the camp until government has compensated them for losses incurred during the floods.
Officials from non-governmental organisations operating in the area said trouble started after the police allegedly began assaulting them, leading to clashes that saw teargas being thrown at them.
“The situation is resembling a war zone. The police were overpowered and fled the scene after villagers blocked them. The villagers then burnt the vehicles,” said an official last night.
A witness and one of the flood victims confirmed to NewsDay the disturbances. He said many villagers had since fled Chingwizi transit camp fearing a backlash from the police.
“It is true that the disturbances happened again today (yesterday)for the same reasons. Today, the villagers torched police cars when the officers tried to proceed to relocate the clinic. The police fled the scene, but people are in hiding fearing that they will hit back,” said the witness.
Masvingo acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna last night could neither confirm nor deny the incident saying he was yet to get a report on the matter.
“Check with me tomorrow, I have not yet received the report as I was out of office,” Nduna said.
Last month, the police post at the camp also went up in smoke in a suspected arson attack.
Two months ago, the government cut food hand-outs to villagers who resisted the forced relocation.
However, the move did not achieve the intended results after only 400 out of more than 18 000 victims voluntarily left.
The displaced villagers were demanding at least $9 million from government before they could leave the campsite and take occupation of their allocated one-hectare plots, which they described as “too small”.
The villagers yesterday said they would not allow medical equipment to be relocated as that would spawn a health time bomb.
Also recently, 10 Cabinet ministers, led by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, left the camp in a huff after they were dressed down by the villagers.
The villagers have resisted attempts to move them to one-hectare plots earmarked for their resettlement, demanding bigger plots and cash compensation for property lost during the floods.
COMMENTS
Well done you guys! Show the Opposition Parties how to do it! We are the majority
Mbavha ndizvo zvadzinoda keep it up! Gen’a ,zimbabweans work up and follow these brave boys and girls at chingwizi
I have no sympathy for the police at all.They are merely glorified bullies working to protect a system that oppresses the people. They are never on the side of the ordinary citizens who pay their wages. Always harrasing and abusing people. They need a few more lessons teaching.
Time for the people to form vigilante groups to teach this lot a lesson.
Are these the ripples and winds of change Do little was talking about?
It is said that “History repeats itself”. Are the “winds of change” indeed blowing across Zimbabwe ? Let us all hope so and top marks for these villagers starting the potential tornado.
Really what can 1hectare do fo a subsitance farmer .sounds like a low density surbub
He he
police in zimbabwe can not call themselves professional they are there to serve the intrests of zanu pf there is always politics involved when ever they are suppose to excute their duties, chihuri and mugabe are the problem,thats why mugabe would never give the police c0
why cant chihuri be changed for someone else
Does this mean the villagers still have the weapons they took from the police?
Our police have become bullies and criminals in uniform who are busy protecting the overweight criminals in offices.
Since ZRP aligned itself to ZPF they have just have became too weak!! Recently it was Mapostori, now flood victims Awu!!!!
The Slap that toppled Governments.
Revolutions have been started by less.The Arab spring was triggered in Tunisia when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after claiming he was slapped by policewoman Fedia Hamdi. That slap caused a domino effect across the region into Egypt and Libya. How the Zimbabwean one will start we don’t know. This could be it if say the Police go on vengeance trip they could carry out violence on a soldiers relative and he could go crazy and do something that will set the ball rolling. These guys are playing with fire and they will soon burn.
ndokuti mugoziva peku vhotera next time
Let’s hope this starts the next Hondo….. ZANU has to go, one way or another.
way to go vezhira! i am proud of you guys vana vekwangu kwachivhi. musatyityidzigwa nemakudo ezanu awa!
Villagers, well done!!!
These patriotic guys deserve burial at the new heroes acre. I salute you. The bogus war vets were laughable criminals who fled when they saw a Rhodesian soldier fearing a good hiding for the child rapists they were still are. Historical fact whether you like it or not
Viva mob justice to zpf
The final countddown
Nowadays police have no chance anymore,they are always on the receiving end kwaaaaks