By James Gwati-Police in Harare are randomly rounding up citizens seen roaming the Central Business District and accuse them of planning violent demonstrations.

In the process the police details who are moving in teams are arresting citizens they would have found standing in shop pavements, take them to Harare Central Police station and detain them for 48 hours before fining them ZWD500-00.

“ I was picked up by the police at corner Chinhoyi and Harare street where I was buying airtime from a vendor and I was taken to Harare Central Police station where I spent two nights,” said one Tonderai Muzuwa.

“ They did not tell me the reason for arresting me until we got to the police station that was when they said I was buying drugs,” he said.

“ They picked us along Julius Nyerere way near Joina City saying were dealing in drugs. We offered to pay a fine when we got to the police station but they said the new regulations demand them to detain us for 48 hours before we pay fine, and we spent two nights in cells at Harare Central Police station,” said a group of teenagers who were rounded up Tuesday morning and only to be released this afternoon.

Efforts to get a comment from police spokesperson Paul Nyathi were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.