Mob close Victoria Falls border post

Alleged war veterans and ZANU-PF supporters in Victoria Falls closed the Zambian border post on Tuesday for more than an hour to prevent travellers from entering Zimbabwe, the ‘Daily News’ reported. The report said the mob went on the rampage in the morning, closing down supermarkets and wholesale shops in the town. They then went to the border post and ordered customs officers to close it.

Thembinkosi Sibindi, Victoria Falls acting mayor, confirmed that a mob closed the border post and supermarkets, and strongly condemned their action. “The border post was closed for about an hour as war veterans stopped Zambians from crossing into Zimbabwe,” Sibindi was quoted as saying. He said trouble began when the group complained that the goods and food in the supermarkets were too expensive. They then went to the border post to vent their anger on Zambians entering Victoria Falls from Livingstone to buy goods from the shops. Sibindi said the mob was angry because foreigners could easily buy items which locals could not afford.

According to the report, Sibindi called on the government to rein in war veterans. “It is high time the government stopped these people,” he was quoted as saying. “I am a ZANU-PF mayor with ZANU-PF councillors, but we do not support the actions of the war veterans. “The business community and workers have been coming to me to complain about the actions of these people.” He said Victoria Falls residents should not be held to ransom by a few misguided elements masquerading as ex-combatants and that their actions were further destroying the town’s already severely depressed tourism industry.

Senior assistant police commissioner Boyathi Ngwenya, commanding officer for Matabeleland North, denied that the border post was closed and was quoted as saying that no arrests were made. Sibindi, however, said: “The police were not even seen there. These war veterans are doing what they want.”