Govt Establishes Special Fund To Assist Businesses Looted During January Riots - Information Minister

The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said the government has set up a special fund to assist businesses and communities negatively impacted by nationwide riots that broke out in January.

Speaking during a post-cabinet media briefing in Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said:

Following a presentation of an interim report by the ad-hoc committee chair on emergency measures to bring relief to business and communities affected by recent violent disruptions cabinet noted the need to bring urgent relief to the communities and businesses affected,” she said.

Therefore, the cabinet has approved that a special fund is set up for that purpose. The ad-hoc committee was tasked to expeditiously work out the finer details of and modalities of the fund and report back at the next cabinet meeting.

In mid-January, the Zimbabwe Congress of Unions called for a mass stay away in protest against general economic hardships and a sharp fuel price hike that was announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

What started as a stay away soon degenerated into riots as protesters looted shops and robbed motorists across the country.

More: NewZimbabwe.com