Mpofu accuses council of stealing vendors’ wares

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FORMER Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu has accused municipal police of stealing vendors’ wares during a raid on traders operating at undesignated sites early this week.

FORMER Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu has accused municipal police of stealing vendors’ wares during a raid on traders operating at undesignated sites early this week.

by Nqobile Bhebhe

Speaking to Southern Eye on Wednesday, Mpofu claimed that the raids were not sanctioned by the local authority, adding he suspected that a third hand was involved.

“It’s baffling that councillors and the mayor (Martin Moyo) are silent on the raids,” Mpofu said.

“What I know for sure is they are not involved and there is a third force from Harare behind these raids. The raids are silly and satanic.”

Amen-Mpofu

He added: “However, what is even more unsettling is that vendors are crying foul saying their wares are being stolen by municipal police.

“Council authorities should investigate all municipal police who participated in the raids. It won’t be surprising to recover some of the goods at their houses.”

On Monday council spokesperson Nessisa Mpofu said the raid was part of municipal police’s efforts to enforce city by-laws. Efforts to contact her for comment yesterday were fruitless.

Several vendors have accused municipal police of stealing their wares.

“What we know is council does not have storage facilities for confiscated goods. We tried to follow one of the trucks with our wares and saw it speeding towards Luveve Road. We lost track of it. So we firmly believed that they shared our wares,” said Simangaliso Moyo, a vendor.

Another vendor, Alex Mazibisa said municipal police did not hand over all seized wares to the authorities.

“During the raids I personally asked one of the officers where they were taking our wares to so that we can pay fines and recover the items,”he said.

“He became very rude and said they can never disclose such issues. However, we are aware of their dealings. They are thieves.”