Zanu PF youths harass vendors over Bob pics

via Zanu PF youths harass vendors over Bob pics – New Zimbabwe 11/02/2015

VENDORS in Marondera have said Zanu PF youths are moving around the town forcing them to surrender their mobile phones to check if they have video or picture clips showing President Robert Mugabe falling at the Harare International Airport last week.

The vendors told NewZimbabwe.com that they were now living in fear of being assaulted if caught with the pictures and video clips, which have since gone viral.

The much publicised images of Mugabe falling are mostly being circulated on the social media platform WhatsApp, which most ordinary people in Zimbabwe now have access to.

Mugabe tumbled last week at the Harare International Airport after addressing Zanu PF supporters who had turned up to welcome him from the African Union summit in Ethiopia where he was appointed the chairperson of the continental body.

“The Zanu PF youths are coming at random times and asking us to produce our cell phones saying they want to check if we have pictures of President Mugabe falling,” said one flea market trader in town.

“We have tried to make a report them at the Marondera Central Police Station but the police seem not to be interested in what is happening to us,” said another vendor.

They are threatening us with unspecified action if they caught us with the pictures. As a result we are now deleting the pictures the moment we receive them,” she said.

The threats by the Zanu PF youths come at a time when media reports at the weekend said at 27 state security agents have been suspended. It is reported that the suspended officers have since been replaced by new security personnel.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza were unsuccessful of what the police was doing to stop the harassment were fruitless.