News / National
Zim security sector reforms a foreign agenda - Chihuri
01 Dec 2011 at 06:38hrs | Views
POLICE Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri yesterday said calls for security sector reforms in the country by some political parties was a foreign agenda aimed at "breeding" chaos.
He made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the senior officers' conference at Darwendale.
"We have been tagged partisan, yet far from it, we are a people's police force. This accusation of a partisan police force is aimed at coercing the leadership to agree to the so called security sector reform," he said.
"This is no doubt designed to destroy the very tenants of democracy, the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe died for. We reject the tag for it is all done for political expediency."
The police force, he said, would not be "myopic" in its vision of fighting crime and maintaining peace by misguided political leaders.
Comm-Gen said his organisation was not a political party but a Government department.
"We shall not be myopic in our vision to be drawn into a political ring to fight anyone politically. For this is not our core business," he said.
He urged politicians to desist from inciting political violence.
"Naturally, political violence is caused by political party members. We do not incite violence for it attacks the very essence of life; first and foremost, and secondly property that sustains the same life we must protect," he said.
"We are saying politicians must stop inciting their followers to stop committing acts of violence. This is one crime that is easy to eradicate if politicians and their supporters so decide."
He said the conference resolved to deal "decisively" with perpetrators of violence.
"Attacking any member of the police on duty shall invite maximum rather than minimum force," he said.
He said despite the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West and meagre resources, the police had made great strides in executing their duties.
"This calls for more dedication and commitment on every police officer's part. Remember its is people rather than resources that account for more than 75 percent of all success," he said.
He made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the senior officers' conference at Darwendale.
"We have been tagged partisan, yet far from it, we are a people's police force. This accusation of a partisan police force is aimed at coercing the leadership to agree to the so called security sector reform," he said.
"This is no doubt designed to destroy the very tenants of democracy, the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe died for. We reject the tag for it is all done for political expediency."
The police force, he said, would not be "myopic" in its vision of fighting crime and maintaining peace by misguided political leaders.
Comm-Gen said his organisation was not a political party but a Government department.
"We shall not be myopic in our vision to be drawn into a political ring to fight anyone politically. For this is not our core business," he said.
"Naturally, political violence is caused by political party members. We do not incite violence for it attacks the very essence of life; first and foremost, and secondly property that sustains the same life we must protect," he said.
"We are saying politicians must stop inciting their followers to stop committing acts of violence. This is one crime that is easy to eradicate if politicians and their supporters so decide."
He said the conference resolved to deal "decisively" with perpetrators of violence.
"Attacking any member of the police on duty shall invite maximum rather than minimum force," he said.
He said despite the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West and meagre resources, the police had made great strides in executing their duties.
"This calls for more dedication and commitment on every police officer's part. Remember its is people rather than resources that account for more than 75 percent of all success," he said.
Source - TH
