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Zimbabwe Briefing Issue 29
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 08, 2011

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Police Commissioner-General Chihuri's words portray extreme partisanship

The Zimbabwe Republic Police shall not and I repeat not sit on its laurels while innocent citizens of this country let alone police officers are being decimated by uncouth opposition political elements in a "naïve and imbecilic attempt to make our country ungovernable" were the bold words spoken by Police Commissioner General Augsustine Chihuri at the funeral of a police officer who was allegedly fatally assaulted by MDC-T supporters in Glenview last week.

Again the Police Commissioner General is seen here sulking on behalf of another political party. What opposition political elements? We have always thought there was a government of national unity that Chihuri is under oath to serve professionally in a non-partisan manner. How can non-partisan uniformed officer refer to any political party in Zimbabwe as 'opposition' or Chihuri is perhaps confirming the obvious that all along he has been a partisan ZANU-PF supporter who has been masquerading as a police commissioner but has infact lost all objectivity and professionalism.

In his public statements Chihuri speaks as though he was a ZANU-PF spokesman rather than a police officer who subscribes to the principles of natural justice that every person is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. He declares 'opposition political elements' guilty suggesting that he himself belongs to a 'ruling party'.

Instead of playing the role of investigator and keeper of peace the Commissioner is seen here issuing threats on behalf of another political party. How did Chihuri prove beyond reasonable doubt that it was the MDC-T behind this heinous crime? Why is he so sure that ZANU-PF did not in fact murder this policeman in a calculated move to frame the MDC-T?

Or perhaps the policeman could have been killed in incident unrelated to politics. We have a Commissioner of police here who has already assumed the role of the courts and is making irresponsible public statements that prejudice other political parties especially the accused. By choosing to politicize a 'nightclub' incident and leaving the blame squarely at the door of the MDC-T the Commissioner assumes the role of the court - dealing a fatal blow to any chances that the accused MDC-T supporters will get a fair trial.

He completely disregards the principles of natural justice and abandons his role as investigator and usurps the roles of the attorney general and the judiciary to determine the guilt of the suspected individuals. While the murder of this policeman is deeply deplorable and must be condemned in the strongest terms, it is unfortunate that the Commissioner has identified an opportunity to slander political parties that he doesn't like in the process. The Commissioner appears to have a hidden agenda to portray the MDC-T as violent party so as to justify future selective application of the law by his force.

The behavior of the Commissioner in this whole situation is unfortunate and should be a confirmation to SADC of highly partisan security sector whose reformation has become an emergency. Chihuri's words remove all doubt on where his allegiances lies and poses more questions than answers on whether justice will be delivered. His reference to the MDC-T as an 'opposition' party despite the party being in the Gnu and also controlling parliament has left all doubters crystal clear about whose interests the Commissioner serves.

While the death of this policeman should not be overshadowed and justice pursued in bringing the perpetrators to book, Commissioner Chihuri's behavior and utterances must be put in their proper context and recognized as threat to justice in this country. He legitimizes all the accusations that have been made against the security sector as a willing appendage of ZANU-PF to perpetuate repression.

Chihuri clearly sees himself as ZANU-PF member by branding the MDC-T as an opposition party. While his right to support the party of his choice is reserved, it is when his love for ZANU-PF begins to interfere with his public duty to protect all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation that we all begin to worry.

His willingness to use the police as a vengeance tool rather to promote peace and justice must not escape unnoticed. His unrestrained behavior has eroded the little credibility left of the ZRP as a professional police force. The attack on this officer should be viewed as frustration by the masses of the biased and repressive behavior of the police. It is a wake up call for the regime that the masses will not be intimidated any more. SADC's focus must now be on a possible uprising looming in Zimbabwe as the masses begin to show signs of impatience with the regimes unrestrained repression.

Chihuri must be reminded that stepping up the repression machinery will not necessarily yield his desired outcome of submission but could escalate resistance as seen by the increasing attacks on police officers by members of the public.

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