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RBZ
hires 'Green Bombers' to enforce price controls
Nqobani
Ndlovu, The
Standard (Zimbabwe)
December 03, 2006
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=5382&siteid=1
BULAWAYO — The
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has allegedly recruited so-called
Green Bombers to enforce price controls.
Previously the
task has been carried out by the police.
Authoritative
sources said the RBZ had hired the youths who were also involved
in much-publicised Operation
Sunrise in August.
The campaign,
to harvest old bearer cheques, was widely condemned after reports
that the unruly youths were stripping people naked and robbing them
of their valuables and cash.
RBZ governor,
Gideon Gono, has in the past warned retailers and wholesalers against
raising prices arbitrarily.
At one time,
Gono descended on shops in Harare’s central business district, to
warn managers and shop assistants that he would not tolerate unauthorised
price increases.
Under the new
programme, until now kept under wraps, youth militias have been
recruited to enforce price controls.
The hiring of
the youths followed accusations that police officers handling the
operation were soliciting for bribes.
The Green Bombers
are believed to be earning around $300 000 a month to perform the
police duties.
Sources say
they were operating under the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) at the
Bulawayo central police station. They have been spotted at morning
drill either at the Drill Hall or at the Zanu-PF provincial offices.
Acting Bulawayo
police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Langa Ndlovu, referred
The Standard to Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka, who said he was
"not aware of that".
"In terms of
the constitution, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is the only police
force. I don’t know under whose machinations the youths work."
Kumbirai Nhongo,
the RBZ public relations manager, had not commented by the time
of going to press.
The Standard
has received reports of the youths beating up and harassing businessmen
and informal traders whom they accuse of inflating prices.
The militias
have been accused of swindling Osiphatheleni, (black market traders)
of their money.
On 17 November,
three of them, Raine Mazhandu, Mthandazo Sibanda and Tawanda Nyamukonda,
spent the weekend in custody after an illegal money-changer reported
them to the police.
The case number
is CR625/11/06 and the three were charged under the Prevention of
Corruption Act. The acting Bulawayo police spokesperson confirmed
the case.
They were supposed
to appear in court on 20 November but the case was reportedly inexplicably
withdrawn before plea.
Other reports
received at The Standard say militias confiscated goods belonging
to Zambian cross-border traders after accusing them of contributing
to the food shortages and escalating prices of basic commodities
at Victoria Falls.
The government
has defended the youth centres, saying they were designed to instill
discipline and patriotism into the youths.
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