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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
Police in Mutare early this morning confiscated threes tonne of vegetables that were meant to supply hundreds of vendors at Sakubva vegetable market, a direct disregard of the 21-day lockdown announced by President Mnangagwa last week.

The vegetable market was closed down by council last week as part of measures to curb the spread of the deadly Covid 19. Sakubva musika is the busiest market in Mutare where hundreds of people converge everyday risking infection. Acting on a tip off, police ambushed the farmers who had already set up their wares by 2am waiting for buyers.

Some of the vegetables being burnt

The Herald witnessed police loading the vegetables which had been abandoned as soon as they realised they had been ambushed. Vegetables that were confiscated included tomatoes, cabbages, green vegetables, lemons among others.  The active night life in Mutare has been a cause for concern as the vegetables supplied to the Mutare market come from all over the province making room for the spread of the disease to other districts.

Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa said no arrests had been made.

“No arrests were made as all of the vendors fled as soon as they saw the police officers approaching but we recovered all the produce they had brought to the market. We continue to urge residents to avoid gathering in large numbers as this will only put our efforts to curb the spread of Covid 19 in jeopardy,” he said.

The active night life in Mutare has been a cause for concern as the vegetables supplied to the Mutare market come from all over the province making room for the spread of the disease to other districts.