War veterans arrested for alleged extortion

Several war veterans were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly extorting about US $25,000 from a private company under the pretext of solving a labour dispute, the state-controlled ‘Herald’ reported. Also arrested were 10 employees of the unnamed firm. All those arrested were expected to appear in court on Thursday. Joseph Chinotimba, chairperson of the ruling party-linked war veterans in Harare commended the police action. “We gave a directive to the police that any person found extorting money from employers and workers should be arrested,” he was quoted as saying. The clampdown followed government instructions to arrest those responsible for invading companies in recent weeks on the pretext of resolving labour disputes and demanding money. The report, quoting sources close to the cabinet, said the issue of rogue elements and impostors among the veterans was discussed extensively in the cabinet on Tuesday, where there was agreement that the actions were criminal and unjustified. “The government decided on Tuesday that very stern measures will have to be taken against these rogue elements. All those guilty of unlawful conduct will have to be taken in and made answerable,” the source said. News reports quoted Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo as saying that it was an offence to pay money to people who were “obviously criminals”. “I am, therefore, advising all those who were forced to pay monies to report to the nearest police station or make use of the police hotlines. Cases already brought to the police are being investigated, and we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to bring the perpetrators to book.” Meanwhile, the independent ‘Daily News’ reported that so-called war veterans and ruling ZANU-PF supporters abducted 60 workers at the Bulawayo head office of Fawcett Security Operations on Wednesday and force-marched them through the city’s streets to the party’s offices. The workers, mainly managers, accountants, bookkeepers, secretaries, receptionists and security guards, were forced to chant ZANU-PF slogans and were only released after the intervention of Dumiso Dabengwa, the former home affairs minister. A company spokesman said they contacted Dabengwa after police ignored their request for help. The newspaper also said that Mazoe Citrus Estates suspended operations on Monday after war veterans demanded the immediate removal of employees suspected to be linked to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The estate employs nearly 10,000 workers. Operations were halted after a group of veterans and ZANU-PF supporters stormed the offices and ordered all the workers to down tools until the personnel manager and an employee were dismissed for allegedly sympathising with the MDC. News reports also said that ZANU-PF supporters had been accused of chasing away scores of teachers and civil servants from their jobs in rural Matabeleland North this week on charges that they supported the MDC. Several teachers recounted to the ‘Financial Gazette’ how they were ordered out of their schools in Nkayi, Bubi-Umguza and Lupane districts by the war veterans after schools re-opened for the second term last Tuesday. “They told us at the close of last term that they did not want us, but we came back when the schools re-opened last week hoping that they were not serious. It looks like they are serious,” said Themba Ncube, a qualified primary school teacher who fled Nkayi with his wife, also a teacher, and child.