SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
7 May 2008
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has reportedly embarked on a countrywide campaign to ensure that all serving officers vote for Robert Mugabe in any second round of the presidential election against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
On Wednesday, Chihuri summoned all commissioned officers from the rank of inspector and above based in Harare and the three Mashonaland provinces, to a briefing at the Morris Depot Academy sports club.
A police officer based in Harare told us officers were instructed to be ruthless towards MDC activists, but should not arrest or detain Zanu-PF supporters for any political disturbances committed in the coming weeks.
The police officer, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said senior officers with the rank of assistant commissioner were tasked with visiting police stations in every district in the country, instructing anyone living in a police camp to vote for Mugabe in the anticipated run-off.
The first of such meetings was held at the Mbare police camp in Harare on Tuesday.
'At each police camp, anyone above 18 years of age, including wives of police officers, are being told to attend these meetings. We are being told bluntly to vote for Mugabe and that our postal ballots will have serial numbers to flush out anyone who votes otherwise,' the policeman said.
Our source identified by name senior assistant commissioner Pfumbvuti, a war veteran, as the leader of a terror group of police officers tasked with 'making life difficult' for leading MDC officials, including recently elected councillors, senators and MPs.
'I will tell you that this campaign has raised a lot of eyebrows in the force. Not only are the officers against it, but also a lot of our close relatives have been caught up in this post election violence,' said the police officer.
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Its a great shame to hear the Assistant Commissioner uttering such comments when he is expected to protect the public and the society at large. He should know that he is a servant of the people, and is paid from taxes collecterd from the society and not from the unmandated president's pocket. The message I would want to sent to Chihuri is that he cannot block the people's wishes forever. When the wind of change blows, it blows for good and it leaves no stone unturned, its only yesterday when the MDC support was in towns but as of today… [Read Full Text]
I have never seen such a bunch of weak, spineless and scared idiots, these top Zanu-PF men. Actually they are running scared like old woman at this stage. Grasping at grass straws.... They obviously forgot that their useless supremo is mortal, and dying. That you have to force people to vote for you. Pathetic!
The issue of service chiefs being embroiled in political issue has been said over and over again,so talking about it as something new and surprising is unnecessary. If any political party is keen to participate, it should be very aware that the terrain is never going to be any smoother.
Zimbabweans,are very much aware of their problem and please ZEC, just anounce the re-run dates then people get ready to cast their votes. Time will tell,it will soon be history,currently its in the making phase.
Its easy for people to believe some of these stories. Zimbabwe 's crisis will never heal as long as people lie to the world, we will never get appropriate help and some of these allegations will just make Mugabe harder.The question is are such allegations true ?Zimbabwe Policeman are quite educated,("o Levels and A" levels) do you think they can ever buy such cheap talk such as the serial number issue and be intimidated.Talk of rigging yes! not such baseless issues.Zimbabweans should stop this hate attitude and talk and comment constructive issues.
It doesn't matter what the media and public say. It could be true and the same time they might be false allegations. The bottom line of the story is, whites will never rule this country without having to fight a massive war against. Defence forces and the leaders are rigid
Didn't you know? The whites lost the war 28 years ago. Don't make this about black and white, it's about your rigid leaders holding on to power at any cost.
One of my family members was told by a policeman at a roadblock very recently that they have all been ordered to vote ZANU-PF. He said they don't care what Chihuri thinks, they will still vote MDC.
What a suprise!There is no way on earth under these conditions MDC can win any sort of an Election, its over !