A spate of robberies by disgruntled army personnel rocked the small and oldest town of Masvingo yesterday, following another looting spree by the defence forces early last week in the capital Harare.
Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members went on a rampage in Masvingo, south of Harare, as they beat up unarmed civilians and illegal foreign currency traders, robbing them of their cash and other personal belongings like mobile phones.
This is despite an assurance by the Minister of Defence, Sydney Sekeramayi on Wednesday last week that the lawlessness by elements within the army has been contained.
Sekeramayi addressed a press conference at the Defence House last week saying the army personnel who went on a rampage in the capital had been identified and would be brought to justice.
"These were rogue elements within the army. We apologize to the public and the incident is regrettable. Those involved would be identified and will face the law. I would like to assure all Zimbabweans that such an incident would be contained," said Sekeramayi.
But less than a week after the violence in Harare, ZNA members based at 4.1 army barracks and Headquarters 4 Brigade in Masvingo went away with more that US$20 000, and cell phones worth millions.
Illegal foreign currency dealers at Exor Service station, along the Bietbridge road, said about twenty soldiers in army regalia stormed the place at around 2000 hours yesterday and started beating everyone in sight, before taking away their belongings
"The soldiers just came from the blind side and started beating us, saying they are starving in the barracks while we are changing money. They took all the money I had, which amounted to South African Rand 4 000, and US 500.
"Some of my friends were worst affected, as they had lots of forex. The entire amount they stole, forex and local currency can exceed US20 000," said an illegal forex dealer today.
At Yeukai business centre two hours latter, the soldiers robbed vendors of their beer cans, and some cash.
No formal police report was made, and the local police details did not attend to the scene, according to the victims.
The incident in Masvingo is preceded by other violent scenes last Monday and Tuesday in Harare after the soldiers, riled by the failure to access cash at the banks, went into lawlessness and smashed windows of clothing shops, House of Khumali, and Edgars, grabbing everything they could.