Because of the tranquillity in Harare, the Government said on Wednesday that the defence forces will remain deployed until the situation normalised to its satisfaction, and also dismissed rumours circulating in Harare that some people had been shot by the army as false. It urged those who were threatened for operating their business to report to their nearest police station. It was reported that goods worth Z$2 million had so far been recovered during the door-to-door searches. Most of the loot included toiletries, blankets, electronic items and clothes. It was reported that police had arrested more than 1 300 people who were believed to have taken part in the food riots in which millions of dollars worth of property was looted or damaged. At least 253 suspects had already appeared in court to answer allegations of public violence while the rest were expected to appear in court. Most of the arrests were made in Glen Norah, Glen View, Mabvuku, Waterfalls, Braeside and Mbare where the riots were mostly concentrated. Mabvuku Fifty residents of Mabvuku, comprising mostly women, appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court on charges of public violence. They were alleged to have been involved on Monday in the food riots against sharp price increases in basic foodstuffs, destroying and looting goods worth Z$50,000 at Kamunhu and Donnybrook supermarkets in Mabvuku. Only Z$10,000 were recovered. The suspects were remanded in custody to February 5 by regional magistrate Mr Cleopas Kashora. They were not asked to plead. Although the alleged looters, who ranged in age from 17 to 77 years, were brought in the courtroom in two groups, they still could not fit into the dock and had to stand in a semi-circle across the front of the packed courtroom. An application for bail by 77-year-old Daniel Master of New Mabvuku on ground of ill-health and that he was just a suspect was denied by the court. “The police are still investigating and carrying out raids on suspected looters. They have not been able to handle the situation and had to call for support from the army. Therefore, granting you bail would be prejudicing the noble task by the police to retain law and order", said Mr Kashora. Another group of 32 suspected looters also from Mabvuku suburb appeared before the same magistrate on Wednesday, 21 January 1998. They were remanded in custody to 4 February 1998. Central Business District The central business district was a hive of activity as normality returned to the city and most of the suburban shopping centres. Industry, which had also closed due to the riots, opened on Wednesday although there were some who were not sure of the security situation. It was brisk business for most shops as they opened for the whole day for the first time since the riots began on Monday, 19 January 1998. Some shelves were empty as people re-supplied their foodstuffs. However, the shops themselves were not getting supplies to replenish depleted stocks because of the closure of business by industry. Mealie-meal, whose price was at the root of the three-day disturbances, was sold out in major supermarkets. People queued at home industries to either buy or grind maize at hammer mills. Members of the ZNA who were deployed on Tuesday, 20 January, kept guard at most shopping centres. CHITUNGWIZA Looters were found after getting drunk on stolen liquor in an office in OK Bazaars at the Chitungwiza shopping centre. Old Mutual, whose Town Centre structure was reduced to ruins, was yesterday assessing the damage to its properties in Graniteside industrial area as well. “While the damages are fairly extensive, the society will endeavour to have the repairs carried out as soon as practically possible so that normal business may resume", said the society's executive, Mr Graham Hollick, in Harare on Wednesday. MARONDERA Police in Marondera said business came to a standstill as a precautionary measure when a rumour swept through the town that a group of people were marching on the town from Harare.