News / National
Chihuri deploys crack anti-corruption teams
11 Feb 2014 at 06:35hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reportedly deployed crack anti-corruption teams at every police station countrywide as the force moves a gear up in fighting corrupt tendencies among its rank and file.
The dispatch follows growing calls on Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to weed the force of corruption rather than the tradition of transferring officers fingered in graft to remote locations. Police sources said communication would soon be dispatched to all stations informing them of the latest development.
"What we heard was that teams are being assembled for deployment countrywide. The scope of the anti-corruption teams is to gather any evidence of possible corrupt activities," said the source.
"They could range from activities taking place within stations and outside. Lifestyle audits will be conducted and that has caused panic among some officers as those who were in the habit of soliciting bribes thought they could avoid censure.
"There are also fears that officers may start selling out on flimsy allegations to settle personal scores," the source said.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said the police do not comment on operational issues in the media.
Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi could neither confirm nor deny the new development, but also said he does not discuss operational issues with the Press.
"I don't discuss operational issues with newspapers," he said .
"This is a security ministry. If I tell you, what do you want to do? You want to counter that?"
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba recently said the force had introduced a raft of radical "razor edge" internal disciplinary measures, supervisory and monitoring mechanisms to counter acts of misconduct within the police force.
The dispatch follows growing calls on Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to weed the force of corruption rather than the tradition of transferring officers fingered in graft to remote locations. Police sources said communication would soon be dispatched to all stations informing them of the latest development.
"What we heard was that teams are being assembled for deployment countrywide. The scope of the anti-corruption teams is to gather any evidence of possible corrupt activities," said the source.
"They could range from activities taking place within stations and outside. Lifestyle audits will be conducted and that has caused panic among some officers as those who were in the habit of soliciting bribes thought they could avoid censure.
"There are also fears that officers may start selling out on flimsy allegations to settle personal scores," the source said.
Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi could neither confirm nor deny the new development, but also said he does not discuss operational issues with the Press.
"I don't discuss operational issues with newspapers," he said .
"This is a security ministry. If I tell you, what do you want to do? You want to counter that?"
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba recently said the force had introduced a raft of radical "razor edge" internal disciplinary measures, supervisory and monitoring mechanisms to counter acts of misconduct within the police force.
Source - Southern Eye
