News / National
Chihuri warns party leaders against violence
24 Feb 2012 at 21:03hrs | Views
POLICE will "heavily descend" on political party leaders and their supporters who fan violence, regardless of their social standing, Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said it was worrisome to note that some political activists masquerading as vendors were attacking policemen on duty in cities.
He said such incorrigible acts, usually perpetrated around regional, continental and international events, were meant to create an impression that there was anarchy in Zimbabwe.
"May I, therefore, strongly warn all perpetrators of violence as well as political leaders obsessed with inciting and condoning these destructive and retrogressive acts of violence that the police shallheavily descend on them, despite their status and station in life," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said this at a passout parade for 290 policemen and women on Thursday.
"Naturally, as the people's police force, we cannot stand by watching helplessly rowdy politicians and their gullible and myopic followers erode our national values, norms and social fibre," Comm-Gen Chihuri said.
He said detractors clamour for a weak and confused police leadership, which was prone to manipulation.
He said the intention of these detractors was to use violence to their advantage as they fear general elections to be held soon.
"The use of violence as a weapon of choice can be explained this way; if they win using violence they quickly ignore the violent element as they admit that the elections were free and fair.
"Should they lose elections, they will use violence to illegitimise the ballot and clamour for negotiations or a negotiated government."
The police chief said this kind of insanity had no place in Zimbabwe.
He said it must be remembered that there were some people right now who had criminal cases and were appearing in courts. He said these people planned to start a Libyan/Egyptian style revolution by staging illegal demonstrations to overthrow the Government.
"To such people, a weak, frail and feeble police is obviously an advantage. Right now, we are aware that there is a small political party outside Government, which wants to start mass protests in early March 2012.
"They have planned to start from Africa Unity Square, employing dirty and desperate tactics such as hunger strikes and mass protests," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said these people had already started decampaigning the elections as noted by the incitement of people not to participate in the polls. He said this was noted in their flyers inscribed "One man one vote to be assured", which were being distributed along the Sanyati-Kadoma Road.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said he was aware of challenges that bedevilled their policing endeavours.
He said their determination to provide quality service to the public had been compromised by shortages of office and residential accommodation, transport and fuel.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said it was worrisome to note that some political activists masquerading as vendors were attacking policemen on duty in cities.
He said such incorrigible acts, usually perpetrated around regional, continental and international events, were meant to create an impression that there was anarchy in Zimbabwe.
"May I, therefore, strongly warn all perpetrators of violence as well as political leaders obsessed with inciting and condoning these destructive and retrogressive acts of violence that the police shallheavily descend on them, despite their status and station in life," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said this at a passout parade for 290 policemen and women on Thursday.
"Naturally, as the people's police force, we cannot stand by watching helplessly rowdy politicians and their gullible and myopic followers erode our national values, norms and social fibre," Comm-Gen Chihuri said.
He said detractors clamour for a weak and confused police leadership, which was prone to manipulation.
He said the intention of these detractors was to use violence to their advantage as they fear general elections to be held soon.
"Should they lose elections, they will use violence to illegitimise the ballot and clamour for negotiations or a negotiated government."
The police chief said this kind of insanity had no place in Zimbabwe.
He said it must be remembered that there were some people right now who had criminal cases and were appearing in courts. He said these people planned to start a Libyan/Egyptian style revolution by staging illegal demonstrations to overthrow the Government.
"To such people, a weak, frail and feeble police is obviously an advantage. Right now, we are aware that there is a small political party outside Government, which wants to start mass protests in early March 2012.
"They have planned to start from Africa Unity Square, employing dirty and desperate tactics such as hunger strikes and mass protests," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said these people had already started decampaigning the elections as noted by the incitement of people not to participate in the polls. He said this was noted in their flyers inscribed "One man one vote to be assured", which were being distributed along the Sanyati-Kadoma Road.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said he was aware of challenges that bedevilled their policing endeavours.
He said their determination to provide quality service to the public had been compromised by shortages of office and residential accommodation, transport and fuel.
Source - TC
