Harare - Hundreds of residents from one of Zimbabwe's townships rioted after police destroyed street stalls in an ongoing crackdown on vendors and other illegals in the capital, witnesses say.

On Wednesday residents used old cars and scrap metal to set up roadblocks along the main road leading into Glen View, a working class suburb south of the capital.

Protesters also looted a local supermarket, according to witnesses. Police were trying to disperse the crowd and restore order late on Wednesday. Rioting began when a street stall housing a popular furniture maker was burned down by police.

Local media reported that police had launched pre-dawn raids on makeshift corner shops and market stalls in the townships, arresting more people as part of its Operation Restore Order.

'We will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in any illegal activities countrywide'

Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka was quoted by state and private media as saying that 10 114 people had been arrested so far, up from 9 725 arrested since last week, and that the crackdown launched a week ago would continue.

"We will continue to clear such illegal structures and we will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in any illegal activities countrywide," Mandipaka told the state-run Herald.

About 63 tuck shops and flea markets have been demolished in the capital's working class suburbs, according to police.

The operation has been condemned by rights groups as unjustified and brutal. - Sapa-AFP

• This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Argus on May 26, 2005

Published on the Web by IOL on 2005-05-26 11:20:00