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Beitbridge protests: 17 appear in court

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We are broke: Chinamasa

SEVENTEEN people linked to last Friday’s public violence in Beitbridge were brought to a special court hearing yesterday and were remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail hearing.

BY SILAS NKALA/RICHARD CHIDZA

Protesters march through the streets of Beitbridge
Protesters march through the streets of Beitbridge

The suspects, 16 men and a woman, were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Gloria Takundwa. They were represented by human rights lawyer, Reason Mutimba.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cross-border Traders’ Association leader, Killer Zivhu yesterday said he had offered to broker a peace deal with government to end the hostilities that sparked violent protests at Beitbrige Border Post last Friday.

Zivhu said his association, now renamed Zimba365, would soon meet top government officials to hammer a win-win deal between traders and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, following the arrest of at least 71 people over last week’s violence.

The protests were reportedly led by a group known as the Beitbridge Cross-Border Transport Association, an affiliate of Zimba365.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Chitungwiza on Saturday, Zivhu said the ban on basic commodities imports was a sensitive area which should have been handled carefully, as it effectively cut off millions of people from their livelihoods.

“Yes those are our members. People are angry because they survive on buying and selling, but we have to be civil in how we deal with our anger. The people we are demonstrating against are in Harare, but, meanwhile, we destroy the same infrastructure that should be serving us,” he said.

“Some of these people who are angry did not even know about the ban. They just arrived at the border and suddenly their goods were confiscated. It is as good as shutting down their lives and nobody can take kindly to that. “We will be engaging government with a view to applying for the permits as an association rather than as individuals. It makes a lot more sense to us. Government must also understand that they are dealing with people who do not have jobs, people who want to feed their children.

“But our members must also understand that government is working hard to bring sanity to the economy and policies such as the imports ban are critical to the long-term survival as a country”.

Zivhu said rather than protest, a “win-win solution” could be found peacefully.

“We can come to an understanding. A lasting and amicable solution to the problem is possible. But both sides should be prepared to talk,” he said.

“Government has a position and our members have theirs, but this can only be resolved if these issues are discussed in a civilised manner. We want the minister (Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha) to understand that he is dealing with people’s livelihoods.”

Bimha insists that government will not reverse Statutory Instrument 64/2016 “because it is in the country’s best interests”.