Senior police officer dismissed for ‘supporting’ MDC (02-08-07)

that this is a message from Police
Commissioner Augustine Chihuri that any MDC sympathisers within the
force would not be tolerated.

Assistant Commissioner Kudzai Sibusiso Ndawana was practising as a
dentist at Morris Depot training school. She had to be forcibly dragged out of
her official residence at Chikurubi support unit base by fellow armed
colleagues after refusing to leave. Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent
Oliver Mandipaka confirmed Ndawana’s dismissal and the subsequent withdrawal
of her housing and vehicle benefits. Initial reports say Ndawana had resisted
vacating the house after an internal investigation linked her to the
MDC.
The high ranking officer from the police medical corps also had her
official Peugeot 406 taken away. Former Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Chawora
said it is clear from reports that the reaction from Chihuri was very heavy
handed.

‘If it is true they fired her for her links with the MDC then Chihuri
and almost half the police force should be dismissed for being card
carrying members of Zanu (PF),’ Chawora said. According to Chawora, serving
police officers are barred from active politics although they are allowed to
vote in any election. This means a serving officer can privately be a member
of a chosen political party but cannot articulate party views in public.

‘Chihuri is on record telling the nation that he was a staunch Zanu
(PF) cadre. Army generals are also on record saying they would never salute
a President without war credentials. This effectively means they are
pro-Zanu (PF), so its clear the laws are being selectively applied in the
security services,’ Chawora added.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news