ZRP: 200 Teenagers Arrested Over New Year Parties

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said two hundred teenagers were arrested in Westgate Harare over New Year parties.

The police tweeted fourteen hours ago:

Breaking news The ZRP has arrested 200 teenagers who were having a party at number 344 Mukwa Drive, Westgate, Harare, in open contravention of the Government’s COVID-19 regulations. Some of the teenagers are dead drunk. More details to follow.

The tweet triggered varying responses with some pointing out the police’s double standards after it emerged that there was a New Year eve party in Mbare that was attended by thousands of revellers.

Some said authorities should have prevented it since the event had been advertised through flyers.

Meanwhile, police say about 52 people have been arrested in connection with the event while some of the organisers are reportedly on the run.

Some said authorities should not “pack prisons with people in places without any water or sanitizers. You’ll expose yourself to the virus”, adding that they should work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care for community testing and get people to isolate.

There has been complacency in Zimbabwe despite the surge in coronavirus cases in the Southern African country lately.