By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo| Residents of Rujeko suburb are unhappy with the commotion caused by drunk patrons who frequent a sex-shebeen owned by a local police officer.
The residents who include vendors told ZimEye.com on Saturday the shebeen, owned by a  ZRP Inspector based at the Central Police station, was creating mayhem in the suburb as drunk patrons had the habit of shouting obscenities at nearby vendors and residents who include toddlers in the area.
The shebeen is situated a stone’s throw from Rujeko police camp yet the police are reluctant to apprehend the patrons and the shebeen owner. On the contrary the police are harassing nearby vendors -some of them who are university graduates trying to eke out a living in the harsh economic environment.
“We wonder who will police the police because the shebeen is well known and it is owned by a police officer. We are having sleepless nights because of people who throng the place. When drunk they shout obscenities at us and our clients. Some of our clients are afraid of coming to our market place. They even shout insults at our children; it is really a traumatising experience.
“We reported the matter at Rujeko Police but some of the officers accused us of stirring trouble. Some times the patrons shout insults at us in full view of the police.
“The situation is terrible; how can a police officer own a shebeen? Our efforts to report the matter have since hit a brick wall since the police are effectively refusing to act on the matter,” said a vendor based at Jazire business centre in the suburb.
In Zimbabwe one has to obtain liquor licence in order to sell alcohol.
The police have been accused of failing to protect the citizens and the vendors alleged they were threatened with arrests and raids when they filed a complaint at Rujeko police camp.