ZRP cleanses neighbourhood watch

The witch-hunt was carried out by Sergeant Kandari, of the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI), at Dombotombo Police Station during April and May.
The police cleansing exercise is an ongoing and country-wide Zanu (PF) project aimed at getting rid of democratic agents. As most serving police officers were either former war veterans or Border Gezi Youth Training Graduates, it was feared that MDC sympathisers within the police could be among members of the Neighbourhood Watch, hence the vetting exercise, said a senior police officer at Marondera Police District Headquarters who refused to be identified. Sergeant Kandari who conducted the vetting is a self-declared Zanu (PF) supporter and has made no secret about his political affiliation. At Dombotombo Police Station there were 52 and 36 members of the Police Regular Force and the Neighbourhood Watch Committee respectively. The number was reduced to less than half and those dismissed were the hardworking and professional members. This was also prompted by the recent rise in number of Zanu (PF) culprits recently arrested by the Neighbourhood Watch across the country.
He said members of the constabulary received two weeks training before being deployed for duties among regular police officers.
This exercise shows how desperately Zanu (PF) wants to maintain its grip on power using whatever means possible. Given the recent declaration of war by the police against MDC and civil society, following the killing of a police inspector by a mob in Glenview last week, partisan police officers are a handy tool in the fight against the people by the dictatorship, added the source.