Chingwizi survivors set free

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Twenty six Tokwe-Mukorsi flood survivors who faced charges of public violence following clashes with the police in Chingwizi transit camp, were on Monday acquitted of the charges.

MASVINGO – Twenty six Tokwe-Mukorsi flood survivors who faced charges of public violence following clashes with the police in Chingwizi transit camp, were on Monday acquitted of the charges.

Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent

Chiredzi magistrate Honest Musiyiwa said there was no incriminating evidence linking the 26 – including an 81-year-old man and a nursing mother – to the crime on the day in question.

Four other villagers, however, still stand trial over the violence.GAVEL LAW COURT

Prosecuting Liberty Hove told the court that the 26 were part of a number of villagers who on August 1 this year burnt two police vehicles and disarmed anti-riot police details following clashes over the government’s directive to move a clinic to a new permanent site where the villagers were refusing to go.

They blocked vehicles carrying medical equipment and drugs from the camp, saying the clinic should remain at the camp until the government compensated them for losses incurred during the floods.

The group, which was detained for several days at Triangle Police Station, denied ever participating in the violence.

Some said they were either in their tents or could not participate in the riots due to old age and other commitments and others claimed they instead went to hide when the skirmishes started.

The displaced villagers were demanding at least $9 million from the government before they could leave the campsite and take occupation of their allocated one-hectare plots, which they described as “too small”.

The riots were another attempt to resist efforts to move them to the plots earmarked for resettlement, demanding bigger plots and cash compensation for property lost during the floods.

Other resistance efforts from villagers included heckling and chasing away 10 Cabinet ministers.

Part of the money for compensation – $2 million – later came, although they were already moved from Chingwizi after their tents were burnt by police in a retributive predawn raid that saw everyone being rounded up and the camp being sealed off.