Armed military personnel and trucks maintained a heavy
presence in residential suburbs as schools, most shops and banks remained
closed despite the end of a three-day national stayaway.
Soldiers and police officers had to escort a few buses
ferrying commuters in a bid to guarantee their safety, particularly buses
ferrying civil servants.
The move followed pledges by government that they would
ensure the safety of commuters going to work and those going about their
business would do so freely.
In the morning, NewsDay witnessed government buses being
manned by heavily armed uniformed police officers, who stood by the door as the
employees disembarked. There was a heavy presence of the army at most pick-up
points for commuters.
The nationwide protests, sparked by fuel price increases,
have resulted in loss of life and property as running battles between the
police and the protesters spilled out of control.
The military also maintained a heavy presence in
residential suburbs like Epworth and Chitungwiza, where there were reports of
intimidation and wanton beating up of people in their homes.
Military trucks patrolled high-density areas, with few
commuter omnibuses operating, while tension remained high among ordinary
people, as most of them did not report for duty after the national shutdown.
At Warren Park D shops, more than 20 armed soldiers were
seen roaming the shopping centre and keeping a close eye on citizens who had
gone for either beer drinking or shopping at the few shops that had opened.
It was the same at Kuwadzana 2 and at Queensdale Shopping
Centre, as most businesses opened, but only for a few hours.
In the city centre, a few shops were opened, while most
banks remained closed for fear of the violence that rocked some parts of the
country as Zimbabweans demonstrated over the deteriorating economy.
Supermarkets that had opened in the morning closed early. A few shops that were still trading at unchanged prices had
to deal with increased volumes of customers.
In Marondera, a heavy police and army presence
characterised the town, with no public transport in sight.
In Gweru, most businesses remained closed despite an end to
the three-day long mass stayaway.
The majority of transport operators also did resume plying
their routes. Fuel service stations also remained shut, as a tense
environment persisted.
“There are fears the violence which occurred might be
repeated, so businesses are still very gripped by anxiety. We, however, expect
all to be well going forward,” Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe said.
In Kwekwe, pupils were sent back home due to the
non-availability of teachers and service stations were closed, while in Norton
pupils did not go to school despite teachers being at work.
The same was for Mutare, although a few shops had opened
and closed early.
In Karoi, uncertainty continued to grip several
supermarkets as well as long-distance bus operators, who shunned Chikangwe bus
terminus.
The three-day national shutdown was organised by the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on Monday to push for government to
revise its recent fuel price hikes as well as remove bond notes.
In Beitbridge, the situation reverted to normal, with banks
and shops all open since most people are self-employed.
Only one person, Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, was arrested and
charged with inciting public violence.
He was denied bail by magistrate Langton Mukwengi, who said
he would interfere with witness and cause further violence as his other
suspected accomplices were still at large.
In Bulawayo city centre, business was still low, with only
two supermarkets open to allow people to get basic commodities they had run out
of during the three-day long stayaway.
The stayaway degenerated into riots and looting of grocery
stores in townships such as Emakhandeni, Entumbane, Cowdray Park and Pumula
East, among others countrywide.
Members of the military were controlling queues in the
Bulawayo city centre. Newsday
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