Sixty Mbare residents, mainly from Nenyere Flats, stormed Mupedzanhamo flea market attempting to loot tents and wooden pallets on Tuesday following rumours that authorities were planning to demolish the structure.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying the residents were immediately dispersed by soldiers and left with nothing. Said Nyathi:
Some 60 people broke into Mupedzanhamo Market to loot goods while acting on false information that law enforcement agents were planning to demolish structures there.
They started removing tents and wooden pallets but police and ZNA officers reacted and managed to disperse them. Nothing was taken away.
The Harare City Council and police have been demolishing illegal structures in high-density suburbs, taking advantage of the stay-at-home order.
A megachurch in Glen Norah, led by Prophet T Fredy was razed to the ground during the cleanup campaign.