Source: Xolisani Ncube, Standard
Many residents of Epworth are still trying to come to terms with events of last Saturday and many are yet to recover from the trauma they suffered the day when armed police stormed their neighbourhood to stem anti-government protests.
The police ended up firing live bullets into the air to disperse the protesters as they were getting overwhelmed by the increasing numbers. The protests were organised by the National Election Reform Agenda (Nera).
Julo Marufu (34) — an informal trader at Solani business centre in Epworth — last week recounted the frightful incident as if it had just happened.
“I had never heard the sound of a gun in my entire life, especially from close range like what happened last Saturday. All along I had imagined that a gun is used in a war situation until last week,” a scared Marufu narrated with a quiver in his voice.
He said he witnessed the incident unravelling as if it was a movie on a giant screen.
“It was around mid-day when I saw a group of people gathered in front of those shops [pointing towards Solani shops]. They were singing anti-government songs. As they moved towards here, [heading to the east of the shopping centre], I saw a group of around 15 police officers who were on foot, trying to get into a kombi to go and stop these protestors, but the kombi driver refused to take them there,” Marufu said.
“They passed here [approximately 45 metres from the shops] with one police officer whom I know and identified [name supplied] from Dombo Police Station holding a gun in his hands. I did not mind them because they did not provoke me at all. After five or so minutes, I walked towards the main road to see what was happening as I heard noises from the protestors shouting Hatidi! Hatidi! Hatitye! [We don’t want! We don’t want! We are not afraid]. As I was on the road, I saw, with my own eyes, this officer [name supplied] standing at that turn off to Kubatana Primary School firing in the air. I heard two shots.”
He added: “I was frightened and in a split of a second, I made many decisions; but my primary concern and fear was for my six-year-old child who was playing along the road. I looked around but could not find him. Everyone dispersed immediately and I could not remain standing there.”
“I ran for my dear life, but in my mind, the safety of my child mattered the most. Thank God he had sought refuge at a certain house and I heard him crying uncontrollably because the gun was fired while he looked. He saw the officer pulling the trigger and even today, he can dramatise it for you. It’s horrifying,” Marufu said.
Although the police have refuted reports of guns having been fired, Marufu said it was surprising because “everyone saw it”.
“I don’t think we have reached that point that would demand the use of guns, especially when no one has been attacked. If they are saying they did not use the gun, why did that officer and his colleagues patrol this area armed like that? It’s very bad to say the least,” he said.
“I had respect for the police and even sympathised with them whenever they were attacked by these protestors, but after what they did last week, they have lost my confidence.”
During the protest, The Standard reporters witnessed an incident where police intercepted the demonstrators but when they saw several pockets of determined resistance they fired shots into the air. They only managed to break the demonstration after threatening to fire live bullets at the demonstrators.
Although the law does not prescribe when to use a firearm during a riotous situation, constitutional law expect Lovemore Madhuku said generally, the wanton use of guns was discouraged by the Public Order and Security Act.
“They are not allowed by the law even to display those arms when dealing with demonstrations, save when the situation becomes deadly. But that decision [to say the situation has become deadly] is not prescribed. It has to be a reasonable situation,” Madhuku said.
“The law safeguards and upholds public safety first so that no police officer is reckless with any weapon he is armed with.”
Another Epworth resident, Damson Damson said it was shameful police were denying that they opened fire to wad off protestors.
“If they think that using a gun will intimidate us from stopping demanding electoral reforms, they are fooling themselves. They can kill us if they so wish but our demands will not be reversed,” he said.
Stella Mpofu (60), another vendor operating from Solani business centre, said she could tell a sound of a gun from that of a fired tear gas canister.
“We saw everything happening. Some of us were born pre-independence and are survivors of the armed struggle. We saw guns and lived with them,” she said.
“The officer with a gun was not putting on anti-riot regalia. He was smartly dressed and we can even tell you where he stays because we deal with them daily.”
Mpofu said while she was not afraid of guns, she feared for the safety of children.
“They should stop being reckless like that. It is surprising that the officer failed to control the gun when he fired. It sounded as if it was on automatic and he was struggling to manage it. It’s a pity,” she said.
National Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi was not responding to calls and messages sent on his mobile phone last week.
Source: Xolisani Ncube, Standard