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“We shall flash out all the bad apples from the organisation” – goes a famous statement by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
But, have they managed to do that? What is the government doing to safeguard its citizens from their own police force? Can the police still be held to account or have they gone rogue?
These are some of the questions journalists (on behalf of the general populace) had Friday as they attended a press conference by Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, and the Commissioner-General of Police Godwin Matanga.
After whetting people’s appetites, who had hoped for a strong response and assurances from the parent ministry and police headquarters following a series of howlers by the ZRP, it turned out to be much ado about nothing.
It was a hugely underwhelming press briefing!
Kazembe even planted doubt in whether excessive force was used or not (watch the videos of the press conference in our groups). And, all Matanga did was repeat what has already been said and then made further promises.
People want to know what action is being taken about police brutality where a bus with women and children can just be bombed. People want to know why suspects are dying in police custody hours or days after getting arrested.
What could have been the motive behind the barbaric bus bombing act anyway? Those canisters are used for rowdy crowd dispersion; was there such rowdiness in that bus? What has been done to the commanders of that “rogue’ unit? Are we likely to see them being punished or they will simply get shuffled again? Who are they by the way, and what are their ranks?
Matanga could not even name the police officers involved; are they being protected?
Wonder why the general public is afraid of the police? Or why they dislike them and sometimes refuse to cooperate? The men and women in uniform, who are supposed to “serve and protect” are not giving them a reason to. All the screaming, including today’s hollow press briefing, have not brought any confidence to the general populace.
Surely by now the rogue seven should have been taken to court if no one is truly above the law. Who is pulling the strings to keep what is taking place out of the public domain?
Why have we not heard of any criminal charges being laid against these cops? Did those passengers on board not make a police report on this unprecedented assault on their rights?
In Zimbabwe, can citizens go to sleep comfortable in the knowledge that authorities have left no stone unturned as part of their investigations?
Take for instance, yesterday’s case where a man, with gunshot wounds, died in police custody, a day after he had been arrested. This is precisely why Matanga has been sued several times by litigants claiming compensation owing to the way his men and women behave.
Dying in the hands of the police a day after getting arrested? How did this happen? Did the police not realise that he was suffering from a life threatening injury? Aren’t the police mandated to preserve life, even that of a criminal? Surely they could have ensured that he got treated despite being caught on the wrong side of the law?
Police are guided by a strict code of conduct in the line of duty which calls for disciplinary action if the organisation is put into disrepute. What happens to those who choose to put the once revered police force into disrepute?
Who will police the police? Because they are the highest authority in terms of law enforcement yet being the most daring when it comes to breaking the law. They have broken windscreens of moving public service vehicles (Kombis) with passengers on board and this has gone unpunished.
Their brazen attacks have resulted in some passengers sustaining serious injuries and causing accidents that have left others maimed and property damaged. What action has been taken against those that have committed offences before? Why won’t these officers who break windscreens on moving kombis with passengers inside get arrested? Is the public too ignorant to take legal action?
They have been accused of looting vendors’ wares and soliciting for bribes from motorists at road blocks.
What has made these once respected and adored officers to become so careless? They have the guts to even assault the elderly who need their protection at all times.
They hide behind the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act; victims are left to incur all the expenses whenever there is damage to property. So where is their role of protecting the citizens and property from harm?
They have the mandate to preserve the internal security of the country and to save lives but their recent flaws are scary to even contemplate that these are the men and women meant to protect us. Why have they suddenly fallen on the wayside? Something must be done before it is too late. Is their Police Charter still being followed or it is just another ceremonial document? Who will police the police? Nhau/Indaba
