ZIMBABWE — HARARE - Frustration is slowly creeping in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), with junior officers slamming President Robert Mugabe for attempting to retain control of the Home Affairs ministry in the ongoing power-sharing talks.

 

Police officers told ZimDaily that attempts by Mugabe and his cohorts, who have dismally failed to run the police force, to retain control of the Home Affairs ministry was completely unacceptable to the police force.

 

 

Officers said their only hope for better salaries and working conditions lay in the MDC taking over control of the Home Affairs ministry.

“If Mugabe and Zanu (PF) retain control of the police force, then we are doomed,” said a detective, speaking on condition of anonymity. “If that happens, I will simply pack my bags and find a job as security guard in South Africa.”

He said the police force was currently hamstrung with a critical shortage of vehicles and the police ordinance was virtually empty of supplies.

There were poverty wages in the force, complained the officer, who insisted that only a hand over of the police force to the MDC would bring respite to many officers.

Another officer said there was serious anxiety in the ZRP over Mugabe’s insistence on retaining the Home Affairs.

Control of the Home Affairs ministry is one sticking point of the power-sharing deal that Mugabe said yesterday would be concluded before the close of this week.

But the old dictator is insisting on retaining control of the Home Affairs ministry together with the Defence Forces. His spokesman George Charamba has claimed that the MDC want to take over the Home Affairs ministry to pursue what he termed a “retributive agenda.”

The MDC is however insisting that it will accept nothing less than 50-50 division of security ministries. Many officers said because of the Zanu (PF) patronage network, they were being sidelined during internal promotions in favour of ex-combatants.

Scores of young police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said their desire to ascend to top positions in the force were being dashed by what seems to be a concerted effort by top chefs to sideline them. And their only hope for career advancement lay with the MDC taking control of the ministry.

Because of Zanu (PF), Zimbabwe has a de-facto police State made up of loyal officers who will not question orders to ruthlessly crush opposition protests.

“At our station they are promoting war veterans, some of who are not even able to write a docket,” said an officer stationed at Harare Central Police Station. “It is distressing that after someone comes to report a case, you are asked to do the papers on behalf of such officers, but at the end of the month, such people are paid more than well trained officers. While I am not against war veterans, I think that promotion should be based on merit. So we need the MDC to reform the police force into a professional force not what we have now.”

Another officer who spoke to ZimDaily said the police force has been politicized to such an extent that professionalism was being sacrificed and only the MDC could restore the glory in the force of yesteryear.

A constable based at the Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) claimed that graduates from the Border Gezi Training Centre were giving them orders and continue to act with impunity at police stations.

“They are suspicious of all young officers who they see as sympathizers of the MDC. I do not think it is an offence to belong to any political party of your choice as long as you discharge your duties professionally,” said the officer, stationed at PGHQ.

 

Another officer at Braeside Police Camp told ZimDaily that senior police chefs victimized him for playing Thomas Mapfumo music in the camp charging he supported the opposition.

“Even reading newspapers such as The Standard and The Zimbabwean and wearing T-Shirts whose inscriptions are deemed radical can invite a disciplinary measure,” the officer said. “I remember an officer who was ordered to remove a MISA T-Shirt by the officer-in-charge. Morale is rock bottom among junior officers, that is why there is corruption and little professionalism in the police force,” he said. “I think only the MDC having control of the Home Affairs ministry will help us.”

ZimDaily heard that officers were being force-marched to attend patriotism lessons at Morris Depot where they were fed with a diet of Zanu (PF) propaganda. They hoped an MDC minister would put a stop to this.

 

ZimDaily heard that the course involves such subjects as Crowd Control and Zimbabwean History but the curriculum is designed to project President Mugabe as a cult with unparalleled heroic antics.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena was unavailable for comment. But an Inspector  declined that the police force had been politicized.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with officers attending patriotism courses. As a matter of fact this has been on going for quite some time now. Police officers the world over are required to understand their country’s history and learnt new tactics in line with new trends in policing,” he said.

But officers claimed the programme was aimed at brainwashing junior officers and wanted an MDC minister in charge of the ministry.    

Sam Siphepha-Nkomo is touted as the MDC candidate for the Home Affairs ministry, according to sources.

 

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