Police Teargas Sweep at Tafara Bar Leaves Residents Gasping for Air

Residents in Tafara say a late-night police operation at a local bar left homes filled with teargas, children gasping for air and community members calling for accountability over heavy-handed policing (image source)

HARARE — Residents of Tafara were left traumatised and struggling to breathe after a late-night police operation at Gurure Nite Sport Bar on Wednesday, witnesses said.

The incident began at about 10pm when officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit entered the venue, ordering patrons to lie on the floor, according to eyewitnesses. One patron who gave his name as Manex said officers threatened to beat those present and accused them of being linked to recent murders. “Their approach was violent from the start — they just burst in and told everyone to lie down,” Manex said. “They were saying they would beat us up, whether we were perpetrators or innocent people staying out late.”

Witnesses said the situation escalated when police fired teargas canisters inside the bar and into neighbouring homes. Residents reported smoke filling houses and children crying as they struggled to breathe. At least two neighbours with asthma reportedly suffered severe attacks after inhaling the gas. “Our whole house was filled with smoke. The children were crying and couldn’t breathe,” a resident who asked not to be named said.

Attempts to obtain comment from the officer-in-charge at Mabvuku Police Station were unsuccessful. A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the operation took place and said internal investigations were under way, but declined to provide details on the operation’s justification.

Patrons and neighbours criticised what they described as a heavy-handed response and demanded accountability. “We didn’t do anything wrong — we were just enjoying a night out,” another patron said. “Now our community is scared, with burning eyes and throats from the teargas. Something needs to be done about this kind of police behaviour.”

Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment by the time of publication. The incident adds to mounting complaints from communities alleging harassment of night-time patrons by police, with critics saying officers sometimes label people out late as criminals without due cause. Community leaders have called for an independent review of the operation and clearer rules governing the use of crowd-control measures in residential areas.