ZRP a weapon of repression

Zimbabwes security forces, particularly the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), have often and accurately been described as an appendage of the former ruling Zanu (PF) party. Some critics have gone to the extent of labelling Zimbabwes police force an extension of the Zanu (PF) youth league. Since the formation of the MDC, the ZRP has on numerous occasions been abused by President Robert Mugabe to perpetuate his despotic rule. In the process, they have made clearly partisan decisions with regard to political gatherings and arrests of perpetrators of political violence. he police moved swiftly to arrest and bring to book seven MDC-T MPs on trumped up charges including petty theft, abuse of agricultural inputs, rape and possession of weapons of war.

In stark contrast was the high profile case of Joseph Mwale, head of CIO in Chimanimani who murdered Kainos Tom Kitsiyatota Zimunya in front of witnesses Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mabika in the run-up to the June 2000 elections. To date they have never been arrested. The recent arbitrary shooting and injury of three Shabane Mine workers in a demonstration also leaves a lot to be desired. They were shot simply because among their leaders were MDC-T councillors. It is such selective application of the law which has tarnished the image of the police force and reduced it to a weapon of repression. The ZRP has abandoned its former professionalism and has allowed itself to be manipulated to prop up Mugabes waning political fortunes. The advent of the formation of an inclusive government in Zimbabwe should usher in a new era for the police force in which it redresses its shattered image, reorients its training programmes and embraces modern information communication technology.

The inclusive government must restructure the training syllabus of ZRP. The six months depot training is insufficient. The curriculum must be expanded to include areas like human rights, democracy and the rule of law over and above the legal knowledge taught at the depot. The recruits, as part of their studies, should have time to receive lectures at the UZ Law School on these subjects. They can also be attached to the POLAD department where they will be taught comprehensive political ideologies. This will give them a balanced appreciation of the political order of the day and an insight into the need to maintain minimum human rights standards. Arrangements can also be made for them to acquire comprehensive computer literacy skills in order to equip them to cope with advanced modern technology.

Promotion to higher posts has largely been determined by ones ability to defend the aging regime. The Police Act must be amended to make it mandatory that the post of Inspector and above be held by an individual with a university degree from a recognized university, a person of integrity and no political affiliation. After undertaking the expanded training, all officers must be re-graded by the Public Service Commission. The entry point of which must be at least equal to a teacher who holds a diploma for all non graduate constables. The meagre salaries of US$150 must be increased to boost the morale of the force and reduce cases of bribery and corruption.

The inclusive government must also seriously look into the housing needs of the police force. It is a common sight to see senior police officers with the rank of Assistant Inspector residing in wooden cabins. Those in urban areas are now senior lodgers. Junior officers are not spared. Upon graduation, they are allocated one room which serves as a kitchen, bedroom and dining room. At Mwenezi Police Station there are no toilets at the police camp and officers make night visits to the nearby bush

Our police forces capacity can also be improved by equipping them not only with skills but resources. Cases are rampant where police officers scrounge for paper, pen and bond paper from other government departments. Some even go to the extent of forking out their hard earned dollars to buy stationery for the proper execution of their duties. – Morgen Kulare is the National Research and Advocacy Officer for Youth of Zimbabwe for Transparency and Progress (YZTP). email:kularemg@gmail.com