By A Correspondent| Chaos broke out in Mutare between the police and Zanu PF youths who have been pushing for the re-opening of the the Sakubva stadium flea market and Nyadzonya youth empowerment produce market.

Nearly 700 vendors gathered Tuesday morning in a bid to push for the re-opening of these markets but police, working on instructions from [some Zanu PF heavyweights in the province, attacked the youths in the process, arresting some.

The Sakubva Stadium flea market has been closed following the Covid 19 outbreak and hundreds of vendors have had their livelihoods affected.

The fight to re-open the flea markets were being pushed by Zanu PF Mutare District Coordinating secretary youth affairs Danmore Mambondiani.

He too was arrested.

“I have been arrested along with other youths. They don’t want to allow our people to work and earn a living. The police have been indiscriminately assaulting vendors,” Mambondiani said.

As lockdown restrictions were relaxed, President Emmerson Mnangagwa gave the green light to the local authorities to re-open all the informal markets throughout the country under strict health protocols.

After receiving complaints from the vendors, Mambondiani and his team of youths in Mutare resolved to take a stand and push for the re-opening of the markets which play a critical role in empowering the poor.