9 Harare Vendors Face Public Violence Charges
Story By Desmond Chingarande
Nine street vendors appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on public violence charges. Prosecutors accuse them of stoning Harare City security officers.
The accused are Regis Karavhina, Mduduzi Ndhlovu, Blessed Chinhema, Tinoenda Muhlupeki and Smart Mafuku. Tatenda Pfuwai, John Mahlangu, Tsungirirai Sanito and Ezra Besamu complete the group.
Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai remanded them to September 28 for a bail application.
Prosecutors say municipal police arrived at the First Street and Speke Avenue corner on September 26, 2026. They came in a convoy of three Nissan UD trucks. About 80 officers took part in Operation Chenesa Guta.
The State alleges the accused incited other illegal vendors to revolt against the operation. They then hurled stones at the officers. One stone hit the fender of a Nissan Almera parked at the intersection. The car, worth US$200, belongs to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
Officers arrested three of the accused and took them to Harare Central Police Station. There, they filed a report.
The other accused allegedly regrouped and marched to Town House, where they protested against the operation. Police attended and arrested them.
Reporting based on original coverage by Newsday.
