On page 3 of thursday newspaper we carry the very disturbing story of journalist Stanley Kwenda, who has been forced to flee the country after being threatened with death by a thuggish senior police officer. This is not the first time that Chrispen Makedenge has been mentioned in connection with human rights abuses. He was named in court as having participated in the abduction of Jestina Mukoko and others in late 2008. He was also accused of being involved in several other abductions of MDC members. He was withdrawn from a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan, reportedly because of his abusive history.
All these accusations need to be investigated. Here is a senior policeman being accused of a catalogue of human rights abuses, and domestic violence which allegedly led to his wife committing suicide. How can he possibly be allowed to continue to be employed as a law enforcement officer whose salary is paid by the Zimbabwean taxpayers?
His threats against Stanley Kwenda do not emanate from a matter of state security. They were in relation to an article we published about his domestic violence incident.
He is obviously accustomed to carrying out acts of extra-judicial punishment against those perceived to be his enemies with impunity. But such behaviour on the part of a senior police officer is nothing but gross abuse of his position in pursuit of a personal vendetta and should not be tolerated.
The silence and inaction on the part of police commissioner, Augustine Chihuri in the face of calls to take action against this wayward police officer make him complicit in Makedenges despicable behaviour.
We join MISA and others in calling for the police authorities to root out such behaviour and to give assurances to law-abiding citizens that their lives are not in danger from the officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga