Attacking the poor6/02/2005 11:14:00 PM
In Bulawayo it was the high density, western suburbs which bore the brunt of Mugabe’s brutal assault upon the poor this week. The Fuhrer’s storm troopers, a politicized and de-humanized police force in which professional values have been replaced by a blind obedience to the Leader, went on a frenzy of destruction.
At Renkini, startled street traders found themselves suddenly under attack by baton-wielding police. There was no warning given or explanation offered for the wanton destruction. Buckets of produce were tipped over and when distraught traders tried to retrieve their few pathetic belongings, the police laid into them without mercy.
In the city’s oldest low-income district, Makokoba, there was, prior to the arrival of Mugabe’s thugs, a thriving local business that specialized in making beds and mattresses. By the time the thugs had left the business was totally destroyed. Beds, mattresses and raw materials had all been gutted by fire.
As the so-called police contingent flailed around with their batons they smashed the legs of two twelve year old girls. Some time later after the orgy of violence had abated, members of the same contingent handed out official forms, authorizing these two young victims of brutality to receive free medical treatment.
