Angry residents of Musina set two cars alight and blocked the streets with burning tyres and rocks while protesting against poor service delivery two weeks ago.

Community members smashed the windows of the municipal offices, the house of Simon Madamalala and the house of the driver of the mayor. Residents are accusing the local mayor, Carol Phiri, and the council's Chief Whip, Simon Madamalala, of being corrupt, practicing nepotism and failing to reduce the electricity and water tariffs. They are demanding that the mayor and the Chief Whip resign.

Police had running battles with the protesting community members for several hours during the night. Residents want Musina Municipality to reduce the electricity and water tariffs and to stop cutting off the supply of basic services to people whose accounts are in arrears.

According to the chairperson of the Musina Residents Representative Committee (MRRC), Mr Mashudu Ndou, the problems in the area started three months ago when community members started complaining about their high municipal bills, corruption and nepotism. "We are fed-up with corruption and nepotism in this municipality,” said Ndou.

“We are going to fight this and we want those two to vacate their positions, since they are using municipal money for their personal interests,” Ndou added. The issue of billing was the most burning one and community members demanded that the municipality should cancel all their debts.

Police spokesperson Lt Peter Mudau said the residents of Musina had gone on the rampage several times in the past weeks, demanding the removal of the mayor and the Chief Whip. “They were marching and then they ended up damaging a lot of things." The windows of the municipal office and the Chief Whip’s office have been smashed as well as the windows of the mayor’s driver’s car and two vehicles. "Members of the MRRC started blocking the road between Musina and the Venetia Mine," he said.

Nobody was injured during the latest incidents. Lt Mudau condemned the public violence and subsequent destruction of property. He warned that a zero tolerance policy will be followed where protestors use violence.

Mudau said the police managed to arrest 25 people in connection with the protest. “They were charged with malicious damage to property. The accused appeared in court on Tuesday, 22 May," he said. The initial suspects included 10 young children, who were released without bail. Three of the accused were denied bail. Those denied bail are the chairperson of the MRRC, Mashudu Ndou, Walter Muravha and Elisa Sakala. The case was postponed to 18 June.