Source: Crackdown against money dealers – The Standard June 16, 2019
NUNURAI JENA
Police in Chinhoyi have launched a crackdown against illegal money dealers and had to fire live ammunition on Friday when they arrested 16 people in the town.
However, most of the dealers were released yesterday due to lack of evidence and were charged for the lesser offence of obstructing free passage along the street.
But it is the firing of warning shots that got people to talk about the heavy-handedness of the police towards civilians.
One of the dealers, who wanted to be only identified as Monya, said he was fined $20 for obstructing movement on the pavement and was released.
“There was no point in firing warning shots in the middle of the crowded CBD as if we are hard-core criminals” said Monya.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara refused to comment on the firing of warning shots, but confirmed that police arrested 16 illegal money dealers.
Mabgweazara said police failed to get evidence that they were money dealers, hence preferred the lesser offence of obstructing free passage along the pavement.
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COMMENTS
“New Dispensation” at work. ED pfeee – viva ED – viva New Dispensation. Yes this is how “open for business” any new dispensation can be. You imagine being initially arrested on suspicion of theft. Then police fails to link you to purported theft but being in a new dispensation it is illegal for you go without paying the State at least $20 as a fine of sorts. So, a completely new charge has to be concocted for you to just pay them. You may just be told that you insulted police officers in your heart. Watuka mapurisa enew dispensation nechomumoyo. Hauna kutaura kana shoko rimwe asi mapurisa azvivona kuti uri kuvatuka nechomumoyo. Saka bhadhara $20 fine; vapedza zvavo. Ndokutonga kwaro nevamwe varo – New Dispensation!