4 police officers arrested in Zimbabwe price blitz

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FOUR police officers have so far been arrested in Zimbabwe for allegedly looting shops under the guise of enforcing controversial price controls, a newspaper said on Friday.

The arrests come after police on Thursday warned that some criminals and ex-police officers are also masquerading as price inspectors in a bid to take advantage of this month' blitz on prices.

"So far, two policemen from Bulawayo (the second largest city) and two others in Harare have been arrested for corruption while attached to the price control section, police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka said.

"We are aware that some bogus elements with the sole objective of looting from retailers are now masquerading as police officers, Mandipaka told the official Herald daily.

For the past week Zimbabwean police have been roaming stores across the country demanding owners and store managers reduce their prices by at least half, to the delight of inflation-weary shoppers.

The blitz has angered the business community, which says it has incurred huge losses and will not be able to restock shop shelves.

So far more than 1 700 shop owners and company officials have been arrested and many of them fined for defying the price cuts or hoarding scarce commodities.

Mandipaka said businesses had the right to demand identification papers from inspectors carrying out raids.

"We urge both retailers and shoppers to report any cases of suspected criminal activity by officers," he added.

There are witness reports from the border city of Mutare that in some cases police and inspectors have summoned their relatives, friends and colleagues to cherry-pick goods like cement and fuel at knockdown prices.

Meanwhile, police have since Wednesday impounded 100 commuter vehicles in the capital Harare and arrested their drivers for defying a state directive to reduce fares, said the Herald.

Transport operators say the fares imposed by the government are not viable given escalating costs of fuel and spares. - Sapa-DPA

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