Soldiers in Chitungwiza
April 16th, 2011
On a lazy Saturday in the sprawling town of Chitungwiza, one would expect everything but the unnerving sight of soldiers in full military gear brandishing assault rifles.
And some weeks ago residents of Chitungwiza were subjected to the start of such a trend.
Since the threat of a mass action by citizens arose, the increasingly paranoid leader of Zimbabwe dispatched soldiers to all police camps in the city of Harare and Chitungwiza.
The soldiers are still camped at the police stations and many just wonder what they are doing, interfering with civilians.
When they make their routine rounds the dreaded soldiers do not say a word, but their sheer presence conveys a message that none would dare oppose.
History is replete with cases when soldiers beat up people for no good reason.
“I am afraid of the soldiers and would rather have my beer at home than at the bottle stores. Soldiers may come back and take people,” said one onlooker.
The soldiers travels in their hordes and the sight of armoured vehicles is a poignant sign of terror.
Bottle stores and beer halls are quieter in the ghetto as people draw a line, well aware of the presence of menacing soldiers in their midst.
