Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There was pandemonium on Saturday afternoon here when overzealous police details violently disrupted a winding queue at FBC bank by setting dogs on hapless teachers who were desperate to withdraw their monthly salaries.
The overzealous cops stormed the bank premises around midday and attacked the defenceless teachers who were pressing to get their cash.
In an incident witnessed by ZimEye.com, seven cops from Masvingo Central Police Station beat up the teachers, before setting police dogs on the frightened men and women, forcing them to disperse.
Due to the national shortage of cash, banks countrywide are battling to serve their clients resulting in endless queues at banking halls.
Teachers who spoke to ZimEye.com said they were surprised by the sudden violence committed by the police.
“We are not criminals so we are very much surprised by the police raid. After all we only want to withdraw our cash here. It is unfair for the police to set dogs on hapless teachers. We did not even cause havoc here.
While we were negotiating with bank officials, police officers arrived and began to assault us with baton sticks,” said a local teacher who declined to be named.
Banks here were limiting the daily cash withdrawals to $100 dollars per individual, forcing the teachers to seek audience with the respective bank managers.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula was not available to comment on the matter.
A police officer in the dog section yesterday told ZimEye: “We only follow instructions from our superiors.”