Harare doesn’t need military solution

Yesterday we carried a front-page story with the headline Harare unleashes security forces on kombis, in an all-too-familiar pattern of crisis management-style response.

The report was to the effect that Harare City Council had roped in the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to help restore order in the capital city in the face of unending wars on the streets between municipal authorities and commuter omnibus crews and illegal vendors, and increasing crime.

In making the official announcement, we only heard two voices: That of town clerk Tendai Mahachi and Police Officer Commanding Harare Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Clemence Munoriarwa.

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