22,000 arrested in Zimbabwe shantytown

Zimbabwe police have arrested over 22,000 people as a blitz on illegal stores and shantytowns gathers pace, sending homeless people fleeing to the countryside, the State Herald newspaper said on Wednesday.

‘‘We have so far arrested a total of 22,735 people and recovered 33.5 kg of gold from 47 illegal gold panners and 26,000 litres of fuel,’’ Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said. President Robert Mugabe’s government says the campaign is meant to stamp out black market trading and other crime in slums around Harare. —Reuters