Gunshots in Harare CBD as ‘MDC-T’ activists clash with traders
Gunshots rang in the Harare central business district Tuesday evening as suspected MDC-T activists and cellphone traders engaged in running battles.
The battles started slightly after 5pm, when the suspected MDC-T members allegedly tried to grab the wares of the traders, who operate along Angwa Street between Kwame Nkrumah and Jason Moyo.
One of the cellphone dealers involved in the skirmishes, who declined to be named said, “These MDC guys always come and take our wares everyday, but today, we just said no and decided to fight back,” he said.
“We have put up with them too much and now we are fighting back.”
Witnesses said the fight started when the MDC-T activists allegedly approached the traders.
The dealers responded by throwing stones at the party members, driving them back. It is alleged that some dealers fired two gun shots, pegging back the MDC-T members.
Shops in the area quickly responded by ending business early and closing shop.
The MDC-T activists allegedly responded by throwing stones back at the cellphone dealers, but were quickly overwhelmed by the increasing numbers of the dealers, who came wielding rods and a gun.
The battles were quelled after an hour and half when riot police arrived on the scene and dispersed the two groups.
Efforts to get a comment from the police or MDC-T were fruitless last night.
