Gunfire as Zimbabwe police battle soldiers on Harare streets

Gunfire as Zimbabwe police battle soldiers on Harare streets

RAMPAGE: A group of soldiers goes through the Fourth Street bus terminus which was deserted as people fled late afternoon terror

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Posted to the web: 01/12/2008 15:49:18
POLICE wielding guns and riot sticks skirmished with unarmed soldiers in Harare on Monday, after frustration over unpaid wages touched off a riot.

Police took away one civilian hit by a bullet.

Trouble began when soldiers attacked money changers and stole cash after being unable to draw their wages at banks.

Zimbabwe's dire financial situation has triggered a cash shortage, making it impossible for people to get access to enough money to survive.

Police fired teargas to disperse hundreds of stone-throwers, mostly young men, who chased the soldiers -- numbering not more than 20 -- they accused of a violent crackdown on illegal foreign currency dealers.

The crowd was chanting: "Beat up the soldiers."

"They (the soldiers) just came here taking money from people and beating and harassing them," a woman who gave her name as Anna said.

One youth, among the group chasing the soldiers, said: "Someone has to say enough is enough."

As violence spread through central Harare, two trucks filled with riot police carrying tear gas canisters headed downtown. Men in plainclothes and armed with submachine guns — assumed to be intelligence agents — began arresting soldiers.

The stone-throwers cheered on the police.

Monday's violence is the second time in a week that soldiers have attacked money changers and stolen their cash in frustration after they have been unable to get their wages at banks.

People can only draw small amounts of money from banks every day because of a cash shortage. Often this is not enough buy a loaf of bread.

The army on Tuesday denied sending troops into the capital to beat up foreign currency dealers and blamed indisciplined forces for the violence.

"Whatever is happening is not the official position of the army," army spokesman Colonel Simon Tsatsi told AFP.

"We don't subscribe to that (beating foreign currency dealers and looting). It's probably just a few small number of indisciplined soldiers who are doing this."

"All efforts are being put in place that there is order, our military police and the police are on the ground to put law and order," Tsatsi added.

Police said they were unaware of the incident. - AP/AP/Reuters

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