Zimbabwe police to get shoot-to-kill powers?

ZIMBABWE police will have powers to shoot suspects who resist arrest or attempt to flee from police custody under sweeping new powers.

The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill, currently at the public consultation stage, will allow police to use lethal force, even on unarmed suspects.

Jessie Majome, who chairs the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs parliamentary portfolio committee, on Tuesday told Gweru residents that if the Bill sailed through, police will have extra powers which she suggested cannot be supported by the Constitution.

She said: "Clause 15, Subsection (2) of section 42 of the Act permits the killing of persons who resist arrest or attempt to escape arrest. Under section 86(3) of the Constitution, the right to life can't be limited by any law (except to the extent specified in section 48)."

Gweru residents attending the consultative meeting forcefully opposed the proposed law change.

They said if police were given power to kill, it would result in people living at the mercy of police officers.

Martin Chivhoko said police should rather shoot to injure or disarm an armed person. He said the Bill was not even clear on persons who were not armed.