Zimbabwe army, police clashes to be investigated

The country's security sector says a joint team comprising members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the Zimbabwe Republic Police has been set up to carry out a comprehensive enquiry into clashes that occurred in the central business district on Tuesday this week when some members of the ZDF were involved in skirmishes with ZRP officers.

Members of the public who were in town were surprised to see members of the ZDF in their uniforms beating up members of the ZRP.

The skirmishes happened in full glare of passersby during the peak hour.

It is, however, not clear what led to the apparent show of antagonism between members of the security sector.

This Friday the ZRP and the ZDF held a joint media briefing where ZRP national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba who was flanked by members of the Joint Operation Command Colonel Overson Mugwisi and Colonel David Nyasa, read a brief statement announcing that a joint team has been set up to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday members of parliament expressed shock over the development but Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi assured the legislators that government will give a full report after receiving briefs from the two parties.

Vendors who sell their wares in the CBD allege members of the ZNA were angered by the behaviour of traffic police officers who threw spikes on a moving army truck in the CBD on Monday.

The following day in retaliation, a group of soldiers in their army uniform returned to the area where their truck was deflated and started attacking any police officer they came across.

Some of the police officers sought shelter at the Harare Central Police Station.