POLICE Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri was yesterday
booed by thousands of Zimbabweans as he pledged allegiance to President
Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chihuri was firstly booed as he arrived at the National
Sports Stadium and when he stood up to pledge loyalty to the new Head of State.
His humiliation reached the peak when he read his loyalty
pledge as people vented their anger and chanted “He should go, he should go, he
should go”, while others rolled hands to signal a substitution, a sign that is
normally used in football.
Contrary to the gratitude expressed to other members of the
security sector, Chihuri, reportedly seen as part of a component of the
security forces who wanted to defend former President Robert Mugabe’s hegemony,
had a torrid time maintaining composure as he struggled to read through his
loyalty pledge.
Mnangagwa kept calm and without the notable smiles he
showed to other commanders that included Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander
General Constantino Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army Commander Philip Valerio
Sibanda and Air Force Commander Perrance Shiri.
Police, who have for long been at loggerheads with the
public for using brute force and their extortionist tendencies, have been
missing in action since the military stepped in last week. Yesterday, their
traditional role of maintaining peace and order during such events was done by
the military.
War veterans chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa said Chihuri
deserved the “disrespect and scorn” from members of the public because he had
failed to discharge his duties professionally.
“In fact he should resign. He failed to act when the G40
cabal was busy looting national resources. Instead the work that was supposed
to be done by the police ended up being done by the military,” he said.
Chihuri was mainly unpopular for the numerous roadblocks
which were being used by the police to extort motorists.
Junior police officers remained rooted in their seats on
the bay behind the VIP tents, as their boss was jeered.
Chihuri is unpopular with his juniors for allegedly milking
them of their hard-earned salaries through forced donations especially to
Kuyedza Club, a project fronted by his wife, Isabel.
National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe leader Sten Zvorwadza
said he was happy that Chihuri got a public roasting as he allegedly led police
into victimising members of his organisation.
“The reason why he was booed down by the people is that he
presides over the oppression of the people of Zimbabwe. He instructs police to
disrupt protests and many freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution,”
Zvorwadza, who didn’t hide his joy as Chihuri was being booed, said. Newsday
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