Police told to vote Zanu-PF to stay safe

POLICE officers in Bulawayo have allegedly been told to safeguard their jobs by registering to vote and casting their ballots for President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF during the upcoming elections, The Standard heard.

Sources in the force said the officers were allegedly told to show patriotism by voting for Zanu PF during the elections. This was reportedly said at the strategy workshops for police officers held in Bulawayo recently.

"The message was clear, that we should all make sure that we register to vote and vote for President Mugabe and Zanu PF during the upcoming election to save our jobs," said a police officer, who cannot be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

The sources said the workshops, conducted and facilitated by the Police Professional Updating Centre (PUC) based at Drill Hall, were held under the title, Public Order Strategy Workshop.

Our news crew heard the workshops were being conducted countrywide, but it could not be verified whether officers in other cities were also being told to vote for Zanu PF. However, the sources indicated that the "vote for Zanu PF" message was the buzzword at all the workshops countrywide.

"The history of Zimbabwe, liberation history and the state of preparedness of the police, was also discussed during the workshops," said one of the sources.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed that the police force was holding nationwide election preparedness workshops, but denied they were being directed to vote for Zanu PF and Mugabe.

"They are held countrywide. But it is not true that police officers are being told to vote for Zanu PF or any other party," said Charamba.

Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri has previously openly declared his support for Mugabe and Zanu PF, although he is supposed to be apolitical.