Suburban
Some of the 200 teenagers who were arrested at a house in Westgate while holding a New Year’s party were fined while the majority of them were released without charge because they were below 18.
Diana Nherera
Suburban Reporter
The school going teenagers were having a New Year’s bash at Number 344 Mukwa Drive in Westgate on January 2 in violation of Covid-19 regulations which prohibit the gathering of more than 30 people to prevent the spreading of the virus.
The global pandemic has seen governments the globe over battling to prevent its spread, forcing authorities to enforce measures such as lockdowns and curfews to arrest the virus.
In a statement on their official Twitter handle on January 2, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said the teenagers were partying at 344 Mukwa Drive in Westgate in brazen breach of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
Police said the teenagers were drunk while not wearing masks and practicing social distancing therefore exposing themselves to the coronavirus. “Some of the teenagers are dead drunk,” reads the statement by the ZRP.
The teenagers were taken to Mabelreign Police Station where they were detained before those above 18 were fined while the majority of them who were aged between 14 and 16 were warned and cautioned before being released into the custody of their parents.
There was reportedly a traffic jam at Mabelreign Police Station as parents, guardians and relatives of the teenagers formed a beeline to the police station in search of their sons and daughters. A video seen by Suburban shows the teenagers sitting on the lawn saying the police are here and also not observing social distancing.
Harare Provincial Police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Assistant Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi on Tuesday said the teenagers must have gone to court as the police do not hold persons in custody for more than 48 hours without them going to court and also considering the fact that some of them were under 18.
However, former Councillor for Ward 16, Mr Denford Ngadziore said the teenagers were all released the same night they were arrested.
“Some who were above 18 years paid fines, some were released into the custody of their parents because the majority were between 14 years and 16 years. At law they can’t appear in court,” he said.
National Assembly legislator for Harare West Ms Joana Mamombe expressed concern over the teenagers’ party was a Covid-19 super spreader hosted at a time when cases of coronavirus cases were on the rise.
In a statement, Ms Mamombe urged young people to act responsibly during this period.
“I strongly encourage young people to act responsibly because right now, everything is at stake -your health, your lives and the lives of those around you. But not only that, the Covid status of the entire country is dependent on our acts as individuals. We have a collective responsibility to do everything in our power to stop the spread of Covid.
“A new variant of Covid is wreaking havoc. People are losing lives so it cannot be business as usual. Let’s stop holding super-spreader events and start holding each other responsible. “Let’s stop spreading Covid through recklessness and start spreading verified information on the disease. Let us not maintain a defiant attitude towards reasonable Covid regulations but let’s maintain social distance. “Sanitize, wear a mask, save a life,” Ms Mamombe said.
On New Year’s Eve, 27 people were reportedly arrested at Mabelreign shopping centre also for contravening Covid-19 regulations.
Mr Ngadziore said the 27 were not wearing masks and were not observing social distancing.
“I am told some appeared in court while others were released,” he said.
Mbare’s New Year Eve music gig organisers- Dhama, DJ Fantan and DJ Levels were this week on Wednesday jailed for six effective months for violating the Covid-19 regulations.
Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro had initially jailed the trio for 12 months before setting aside six months of the sentence. The six months were set aside for three years on condition that they will not commit a similar offence within that period. The three organised the New Year’s Eve bash which easily ranks as of the major Covid-19 super-spreaders in Harare where the majority among the attendees were also teenagers.
