CHEGUTU
In Chegutu, the riots left a trail of destruction on Monday night, with goods worth thousands of
dollars stolen. More than 100 suspected looters were arrested. A small group of people, mainly
youths, started the demonstration at about 5pm when it stormed an Aroma Bakery in the town
centre. The demonstrators smashed the bakery's windows and looted a few items before they
went on to stone the company's vehicles which were parked at the premises. Three of the
delivery trucks had their windscreens shattered.
Police were alerted and some policemen, who had already finished work, had to be re-called.
Members of the police quickly moved in and drove the rioters from the town centre to Pfupajena
high density suburb. Several teargas canisters were fired to disperse the rowdy group.
A number of shops in the town centre were damaged as the rioters retaliated by throwing
missiles at the police and buildings. Windows at some buildings were shattered. Among the
damaged shops in central Chegutu were Edgars, Bata and Express Stores. Most of the
destruction was in Pfupajena high density area, where many shops had their windows
shattered, burglar bars ripped off, and goods stolen. Cutman Supermarket at Pfupajena
shopping centre was the most affected. The shop had closed for the day. Rioters first ripped off
burglar bars before they smashed the huge windows to gain entry. The supermarket was looted
of all the goods. Only bare shelves remained. Even tills were stolen from some shops. The
shopping centre was still under police guard by Tuesday afternoon. At the Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation township and at Muvova shopping centre shops were not spared
either. Among other damaged shops in Pfupajena were Zvikomborero Mini-market, Luck
Savings Butchery, Nyangani Store and Masanga General Dealer.
The rioters were, however, overpowered. They then retreated to Pfupajena township, where
they were joined by larger groups of demonstrators. Chegutu police were busy processing the
suspects on Tuesday, whom they asked to identify their loot one after the other. Most of them
were able to identify their booty. The running battles between the police and the demonstrators
lasted about six hours. The situation in the town was calm throughout the day Tuesday. Shops
in the town centre and in the high density suburbs remained closed for the whole day. Only
bottle stores and other beer outlets were open.
NORTON
In Norton the situation was calm, with shops in the town centre fully operational. It was also
business as usual in the small town's industrial area. However, the situation was unpredictable
in Katanga high density suburb, where all shops were closed. More than 200 people were just
milling around at Katanga shopping centre while the shops remained closed. Police were on
guard to ensure peace prevailed. Two people were arrested at the shopping centre for minor
skirmishes.
Wednesday, 21 January 1998
The day began with the papers reporting that everything was normal, and businesses should reopen and workers should return to work. Traffic poured into the city in the morning with the
expected jams around 8am. Police and army officers were on guard at shopping centres to
ward off looters.
There were reports of house-to-house searches being conducted by the ZRP and the ZNA, with
many reports of arrests having been made. There were also the first reports of injuries and
deaths, but these were very contradictory and confused, with no clear indication of actual
numbers.
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