BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
The police force, crucial to Robert Mugabe’s continued stranglehold on power in Zimbabwe, are demoralised after Government failed to pay them for election related work, The Zimbabwean can reveal.
Special constabulary officers and regular members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police are livid over Government’s failure to pay them the promised Z$3bn in the 10 days they have worked, starting three days prior to the March 29 poll.
The Zimbabwean understands that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) made cash available to the Director of Finance in the Home Affairs ministry at Mukwati Building. The cash cascaded down to the line commanders, but then disappeared, leaving a dispirited police force.
Senior police officers and other regular members told The Zimbabwean this week that of the Z$3bn, they were only paid Z$900m on March 27 and promised the rest after 10 days. But with Mugabe desperately clinging to power, this period has been extended, and their payments have been withheld. The officers say that the longer the cash is withheld, the more its value is shrinking due to hyperinflation and the collapse of the currency.
The original billions were awarded to lure officers for election work following alarming reports of resignations and others going absent without leave.
A senior officer said the top brass had “diverted” money meant to pay officers to the black market.
The Zimbabwean heard that only officers under the Police Protection Unit, tasked with security for VIPs, had been paid in full.
What has exacerbated the situation is that no officer has been allowed to stand down and have remained in police camps as a standby force.
t Morris Depot, Thomlinson, Chitungwiza and Braeside, officers were angry over the late payment. Officers said they would not quash any rebellion by people because of non-payment.
“I can’t be used to assault my brothers and sisters in support of a regime that has failed to pay me,” charged an angry regular member of the force, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Efforts to obtain comment from the deputy police commissioner responsible for operations, Innocent Matibiri, failed. But Claudius Makova, the Zanu (PF) MP who chaired the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on defence in the last parliament, warned that the financial situation in the defence forces had severe implications for national security.
Makoni members in secret vote
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