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2 killed while queuing for sugar
16/08/2007 13:20 - (SA)
Harare - Two people including a 15-year old boy were killed in a stampede for sugar in Zimbabwe, said reports from the country's second city.
Several other people were injured in the stampede on Wednesday morning outside Entumbane Shopping Complex in Bulawayo, said the state-controlled Chronicle newspaper.
The dead boy was said to have had two fractured legs and a fractured arm after a wall collapsed as people scrambled over it to get first in the queue for sugar.
He died in the afternoon after being admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital, the paper said.
The other person killed was a 35-year old security guard who was trying to man the gate at the shopping complex. An eyewitness said he was crushed to death by a pillar pushed over by the surging crowd.
Desperation growing in Zim
Enos Luphahla, a witness, said: "When he (the guard) saw the number of people pushing the gate he sensed danger and hid behind the pillar between the two gates."
However, the pressure was too much for the wall and it fell on the guard. Up to 1 000 people were reported to have been queuing for the sugar from as early as 06:00.
Some people also fell as they ran towards the shops, resulting in them being trampled on and several people were injured in the process, the witness added.
Desperation was growing among Zimbabwean shoppers due to critical shortages of basic goods such as sugar, bread, cooking oil and meat.
The shortages had worsened after a price freeze the government imposed on all goods and services in June. Manufacturers and retailers said they couldn't afford to produce and restock shelves if they were forced to sell at a loss.
Sapa-dpa
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Zimbabwe Special Report
