Secret report reveals Police strike

parliamentary committee on defence and home affairs in April, was set to be presented in Parliament last month. But the report failed to see the light of day after President Robert Mugabe’s government gagged it following fears that it could trigger “alarm and despondency” among police officers.
Under the country’s laws, it is illegal for Zimbabwean police officers to go on strike. The report also said morale in the police force was at rock-bottom with the law enforcement agency seriously compromised to effectively discharge their duties in the event of violent political disturbances due to a crippling shortage of vehicles, teargas, handcuffs, fuel and other resources.
Sources say the committee was likely to present a toned down version of the report to Parliament sometime this week with details of the averted strike action by the police struck out.
“The committee compiled evidence from its visits to police stations across the country in April. The situation was so pathetic. Salaries and working conditions are so poor that officers can’t afford to replace buttons on torn uniforms.
“Everything one can think of that is used for police business is in serious short supply. As a result, police officers working in accord with some senior officers nearly went on strike earlier this year,” said a source close to the parliamentary probe team. The source, who cannot be named for security reasons, said the strike action by the police was only averted following interference from “very high offices” and promises of hefty salary increments. He did not elaborate.
Zimbabwe’s Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa is said to have pressured Claudius Makova, the chairman of the parliamentary committee and a ruling Zanu (PF) legislator, to tone down the report.
“Chinamasa told Makova that some of the information would cause alarm and despondency. He was also worried that it would put the country’s security and stability at risk,” he said.
Both Makova and Chinamasa refused to comment on the matter. “Why speculate on a report that is going to be made public one day,” was all Makova would say. Other members of the committee refused to shed light on the matter saying under Zimbabwe’s parliamentary regulations, it was illegal to speak about parliamentary
reports before they are made public. – ZimOnline