Following a phone call from some colleagues and observations from our own staff coming into work yesterday morning, we sent out this text message to our SMS subscribers:
Kubatana! We have received reports of violence in Harare’s CBD. Please take care of yourself. Text us to report what you’re seeing or email info [at] kubatana [dot] net
We then received a number of messages from our subscribers, which confirmed this alert recently sent out by the MDC:
Hundreds of Zanu PF youths have destroyed and looted property and goods at the Gulf Complex in the Harare Central Business this morning. The Zanu PF youths are wearing MDC T-shirts. They gathered at Zanu PF headquarters early this morning before driving past the MDC headquarters, Harvest House in seven trucks on their way to the Zanu PF Harare provincial offices along Fourth Street. At the Zanu PF provincial offices, they were given MDC T-shirts. They then marched to the Gulf Complex where they looted goods and property.
Some of our subscribers also took advantage of the opportunity to report other acts of violence, intimidation and harassment they have been experiencing.
Read some of these citizen journalist reports below:
- I have seen people flocking there at Gulf Complex and it’s closed. I think Zanu PF hooligans. Main reason I haven’t heard.
- From my own point of view this is what they call phase 2 of campaigning coz they are targetting shops belonging to Nigerians to move from CBD to industrials and leave CBD for Zimbabweans.
- We are being threatened with death should your name fail to be seen on Sabuku’s list of Zanu PF members.
- In Nyanga people are forced to sign anti-sanctions document, at hospital and in location. Violence has started.
- Zanu PF youth have destroyed the Gulf Complex.
- I have witnessed violence yesterday where Zanu PF thugs are victimising people. They were forcing them to sign a sanctions petition including Claudius Makova former Bikita MP.
- They are the same people whom we put into office through the inclusive government who want to inject fear into the people so that when it comes to elections people will vote with fear.
- Zanu PF youth are marching in the CBD beating and forcing people to close shops.
- I’m seeing the best chance for the two MDCs to pull out of the most unholy union made on Mother Earth.
- Zanu PF youths passed through Standard Chartered Bank Robert Mugabe branch as I was there withdrawing my cash at the ATM. They robbed me of my cash.
- Ma one chiawo met a large mob vachimhanya towards Zanu PF Harare HQ chanting pro mugabe slogans.
- Gulf Complex has been looted, tables & glasses broken. Thugs made shops to close. Riot was slow in reaction and only came when the damage was already done.
- I am in Avonlea, it’s very quiet.
- In Robert Mugabe Street, I’ve noticed most shops have closed and the so called who are doing this are travelling in trucks and kombis chanting songs. It’s scary.
- Even here they were patrolling at night after beating two people at Warren Park for wearing red t-shirts.
- I didn’t see anything.
- How much were all those people paid to toyi-toyi and loot.
- Mutare is cool
- There’s no rule of law & urgent attention is needed to be stamped by responsible authorities.
- Some transport operators are being forced to carry Zanu PF supporters into the city centre.
- Jabulani Sibanda is going to contact a meeting at Zvavahera Business Centre on the 18th of February. He highlighted it like fanai kutendeuka mukasada Zanu PF tinokuurayayi.
- Very tense I’m told people are being beaten by Zanu PF thugs. Streets leading to Market Square blocked by police. Shops closed.
- Here in Nyanga Zanu PF activists and war vets tried to beat up people but MDC-T activists resisted and promised to use traditional means like kuromba.
- Ndiri kuona Zanu PF iri kutsvaga kurohwa MDC. Tichaendawo kuno varwisawo hapana akabata mazai. Vakaramba vachidaro hokoyo nesu.
- The Zanu PF youths are beating people. Their main targets are the Nigerians at Gulf – they say they are supporting the MDC. They did it also on Friday, around 10pm.
- The situation is bad. Businesses are at a hold. All shops are closed.
- They are targeting some Nigerian shops and brutalising innocent people.
- Yeah there is violence at 4th street bus terminus the youth are taking the commuter omnibuses to their own destination.
- In Epworth Zanu PF youths are refusing development by MDC’s. They are destroying good work. What’s bad about development then?
- Zanu is well known for violence. It uses state security to suppress the masses.
- Yes it’s true. In Highfield on Saturday people were forced to attend a Zanu PF meeting at Zororo Centre.
- Chitungwiza is at ease – no violence. The problem here is we are one and a half weeks without water from the taps.
- Youths toy-toying riot police in position. Tense but not threatening between Nehanda Gulf.
- Zanu PF youth are demanding the take over of foreign owned shops, particularly Nigerian ones.
- They have looted goods at Gulf Complex.
- Victimisation in Mbare.
- Trucks of cars with people singing.
- There are many lorries carrying youths to 4th Street.
- In Chitungwiza Unit N and D the junta bases have started last week in Unit N. We receive many cases. One youth was attacked by a bottle of beer and he had injuries on his back. He was treated at Chitungwiza hospital yesterday – got 14 Stitches. At Unit A Maruza Shops Zanu PF youth attack many people accusing them of supporting the MDC.
- Police have sealed off area around the Gulf Complex. Vehicles freely moving through but pedestrians prohibited. Heard that there was looting. The Gulf complex and shops around it closed.
- Those thugs are at it again. I stay in Mbare and yesterday (Sunday) someone knocked on my door and upon opening the door i saw a familiar face which I always see when going to the shops with my kids. There stood a woman who clearly told me that she is a Zanu Pf Branch chairwoman,and she told me that i must come for a meeting by 5pm that same day, failure to attend as she said will result in me and my family being attacked (killed). To tell you the truth i attended the meeting, but against my will (for the sake of my family’s life).
- Yes I can confirm that there are spontaneous incidents of violence in the CBD. Today when I was driving along Seke Road I saw a multitude of youths marching and chanting Zanu PF slogans towards the Railway Station. Business came to a stand still as these rowdy youths disturbed the traffic movement. Barely 15 mins later I then saw 4 truck loads of people along Nelson Mandela / Julius Nyerere singing and chanting slogans, again, with the obvious intention of intimidating people. One then wonders whether this is a strategy of instilling fear in the masses to avoid a possible Cairo or its an election strategy of some kind.
- Zaka residents are failing to get time to work in their fields after kraal heads compiled registers of all subjects 16 years and above to be drafted in Zanu PF’s political structures. Anyone who fails to attend these daily meetings are promised thorough beatings or murder by soldiers.
- Been in the CBD and the Gulf Complex is closed. Police are moving in the street. Havent encountered violence as yet.
- Zanu PF youths planning to chase away Nigerians at the Gulf Complex. Some are from Mbare and Mufakose
- The information is that Zanu PF youths are going to loot at gulf complex in the name of MDC T – They want to chase the Nigerians. Can we support the inclusive government.
- ZANU PF youth are threatening vendors not to sell anything so people here are confused and puzzled about the situation. They say they are going to eat and destroy everything worried Highfield
- We are seeing the black boot police all over the place what is going on, Kubatana
- Yes there is violence to our workplace from zanu pf youths they are now forcing us to buy zanu pf cards is that democracy? Is there any other opposition party which will rul Zimbabwe or zanu pf wil only rul?
- Latest info, im in mrewa rite now youth are now living in the bush from the bush to shopping centre at nhakiwa they are harassing people and bit them I hv names of the leaders and were they stay
- I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF ZANU 4ROM MBARE THERE WHE RE WHERE FEAR SOMEYOU CANT CROSS THROUGH THEM
- It is saddening 2 c that the machinery arm of violent is extending. Border gezi graduates a under military training @ Siakobvu in Nyami-Nyami District Kariba 4 next 3 or 4 months.
- Quite a number of camps have been put in place around the country
- Word on e street says e pin heads maybe planning on attacking the Galz offices. Warn them to up their security at all times.
- The liberation party is supposed to be removed through the barrel of the gun. Food for thought.
- I saw zanu pf youths chanting slogans and forcing people to close their shops this morning I didn’t understand what was going on
- Here in mudzi they are starting 2morow mayouth wil let u know
- I saw Televisions being destroyed whilst the police were just watching. Shops were forced to close. By Gulf police were just watching them when shops were closed.
- The will beat us come election day we know what we want
- CHIPANGANO MBARE IS MAIN TRAUBLE OF VAILENCE OF TODAY IN THE CBD THEY WAN’T ALL CHINA’S OUT
- LOOTED CELLPHONES NOW ON SALE IN MFAKOSE BY YOUTHS
- We are destroying our country and this lays bare the tragic consequences of one man basic animal motivation; deep rooted greed for domination.
- What is happening here is too bad, zanu pf supporters. Wearing t shirts are actually beating innocent people like mdc supporters are being victimised. the situation is very tense for zimbabwe runn election this year.
