NewsDay is reliably informed that low-ranking police
officers petitioned their commanders saying they were failing to discharge
their duties because of undue influence.
An audio recording of Environment and Tourism deputy
minister Barbra Rwodzi verbally assaulting a police officer who had opened a
docket against a Zanu PF member who defaced Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)
campaign posters recently went viral on social media.
In a recorded phone call, Rwodzi who is also the Zanu PF
Chirumanzi South legislator threatened to report the police officer dealing
with the matter to Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and President Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
The incident sparked outrage within the rank and file of
the police who felt undermined.
Police officers are said to have asked Matanga to take
action against Rwodzi, to “restore police dignity”.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi said police bosses were seized with the matter.
“Matanga is aware of such complaints and we have taken note
of the alleged voice recording between Rwodzi and the police officer,” Nyathi
said.
“We have since launched an investigation into the matter. The
commissioner has already released a statement to say investigations into the
matter have been launched, thus the matter is being dealt with.”
Zanu PF party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa was not
picking calls yesterday when attempts were made to get his comment on the
matter.
The ruling party’s political commissar Mike Bimha said Zanu
PF had not sanctioned intimidation of police officers.
“Individuals threatening police offices are not
representatives of Zanu PF in the acts,”
Bimha said.
“An individual is not Zanu PF. Go and ask those accused of
threatening the police, they can answer for themselves because they are
independent of the party.
“Otherwise, we are busy campaigning.”
In a memo dated July 16, 2023 addressed to police officer
commanding Midlands province Patson Nyabadza, officer commanding Gweru rural
district Tambudzai Gumbo said the
victimisation had made police work “difficult”.
“On July 15, 2023 at around 2207 hours, number 041853R Insp
Murima received a phone call from Honourable Babra Rwodzi... who is the deputy
minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism questioning why the accused person
was summoned to appear in court,” Gumbo wrote.
“‘When she was told that the accused person was facing the
allegations of removing and destroying posters for another political party, she
vented her anger on the junior officer telling him that police was doing
nothing to protect members from the ruling party, Zanu PF.
“She told the junior officer that the case was not supposed
to be referred to court, instead, the junior officer as the officer-in-charge
was supposed to handle the matter at the station.
The memo says Rwodzi accused police officers of being CCC
members simply because they had opened a docket against her party supporter.
It adds: “Honourable Babra Rwodzi also questioned why
police was allowing the opposition party CCC to display party posters in
Chirumanzu South constituency.
“Efforts to explain that police had no mandate to stop the
opposition party from displaying their posters fell on deaf ears.
“Honourable Babra Rwodzi accused police officers at ZRP
Charandura of being members of CCC party and promised to take the matter up
with the Commissioner-General CDE GT Matanga and his Excellency the President
of the Republic of Zimbabwe CDE DR ED Mnangagwa.
“It is now difficult for police officers to execute their
duties as required in section 219 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe with threats
of victimisation when executing their duties.”
The opposition has been calling for security sector reforms
for years as it complains about Zanu PF-State conflation.
Some Zanu PF officials have been steadfast in blocking
security sector reforms saying the move was meant to facilitate regime change.
Police’s professionalism has come under sharp focus in the
run-up to the August 23 elections after it barred CCC from holding a number of
campaign rallies.
CCC leader Nelson Chamisa was forced to cancel the launch
of the party’s election campaign a fortnight ago after police in Bindura
refused to sanction the event saying the proposed venue had no access road and
toilets. Newsday
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