Zimbabwe Police Target Street Vendors

[chlamor]

Zimbabwe Police Target Street Vendors

Monday May 23, 2005 9:01 PM

By MICHAEL HARTNACK

Associated Press Writer

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Paramilitary units armed with batons and tear gas patrolled Harare's main roads Monday as police warned they would not tolerate any more protests against their crackdown on street trading - the only livelihood for thousands in Zimbabwe's shattered economy.

Police Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said 9,653 people have been arrested in a five-day blitz on street vendors, flea market stalls and other informal businesses.

The roundup of street traders - who include teachers and other professionals unable to make a living at their old jobs - came as the government took drastic measures to address an economic crisis it once denied.

The crackdown is aimed at crushing the black market for scarce staple goods such as maize meal, sugar and gasoline. The government claims the traders are not licensed and blames them for sabotaging the economy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5026357,00.html