Zimbabweans are aware that ZRP officers seem to have very clear instructions to avoid arresting any members of Zanu (PF), even when such persons commit murder.
There are numerous cases that can be cited where people who committed murder in the name of the former liberation movement were identified by relatives of their victims but were never even questioned by the police. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s comments regarding the selective application of the law by the ZRP were correct and based on the numerous experiences of his political party.
For example, there has never been any reported disruption of a Zanu (PF) political meeting by the ZRP on the grounds that police clearance had not been granted. On the other hand, scores of MDC meetings, including those that have been cleared by the police, have often been stopped by the ZRP for no valid reason whatsoever.
Some years ago, a judge of the High Court instructed the police to hunt for and arrest Joseph Mwale so that he could answer charges of the various murders he was alleged to have committed. The ZRP defied that order and to date Mwale still roams the streets of Gwanda, Bulawayo and even Harare as a free man. Assistant commissioner Charamba must be the only police officer who is not aware that in 2008 and before, victims of Zanu (PF) violence who went to ZRP offices around the country to report cases committed by that party’s supporters would often be arrested by the police and locked up. The perpetrators of the violence would often remain free, and most are free even today.
The MDC has provided the ZRP with detailed cases of political violence over the years, including the names and addresses of the perpetrators of these crimes. The force has consistently failed to follow up on these matters by way of investigation leading to arrest. We are also aware that in some cases it had to be the avenging spirits of the victims of such murders that have fought against the perpetrators of violence. Are avenging spirits better at enforcing the law than the ZRP?
We are also aware that there are many senior Zanu (PF) officials who are alleged to be blatantly corrupt, but who have never been investigated by the police. The same police force has been very quick to investigate false accusations levelled against such MDC figures as Minister Elton Mangoma and others, while corruption gurus in Zanu (PF) remain untouchable. Is that not selective application of the law, assistant commissioner Charamba?
‘ZRP is far from being a professional law enforcement agency’
It may be useful to ask Charamba to cite for us any one case where a group of Zanu (PF) hoodlums spent more than 12 months in custody because the police were investigating their cases. This has happened to the MDC and remains one of the most glaring human rights violations that the Mugabe regime and the ZRP have inflicted upon this country.
When did the police ever confront a Zanu (PF) cabinet minister who was alleged to have committed some crime and placed him under arrest? But this has often happened to many MDC ministers, Members of Parliament and councillors. At one time President Mugabe had to intervene by instructing the police not to arrest ministers before he and the Prime Minister had been informed. Assistant commissioner Charamba should spend some time going through some of the reports that are compiled by her juniors in order for her to become aware that the ZRP is far from being a professional law enforcement agency. – makumbe60@gmail.com
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis