The NCA highlighted the deaths of Gift Tandare, Munyaradzi Hadzizi and Edward Chikomba last year as a clear bid by the police to thwart civil society and the opposition party.
Chikomba, a journalist, abducted by people alleged to be from the Central Intelligence Organisation. His body was found just outside the Harare boundary.
“The NCA believes some of the people who have been incorporated within the ZRP are from the National Youth Militia schools (popularly known as Border Gezi training centre). This can be seen through the extent of brutality which is [taught] only at these militia schools,” said NCA spokesperson Chivasa.
“It is worrying for the NCA to note that even court sanctioned demonstrations are clamped down on by the ZRP, like what happened to the opposition MDC supporters last week, which also saw some innocent civilians being chased [with] teargas.”
The NCA is concerned that the police officers who brutalise demonstrators face the same problems, such as cash shortages, electricity and water cuts and the scarcity of basics in the shops.
“Besides being the most poorly paid among the entire collection of the civil servants, Zimbabwean police remain being polarised and that is unfortunate,” Chivasa adds.
The NCA called for Zimbabweans to deny unlawful arrests and to prepare to defend themselves when faced with violent police at rallies and demonstrations. – Staff Reporter
Post published in: News