Chihuri's term of office has expired

Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri's term of office expired yesterday, with coalition government partners immediately saying the police boss is staying onto the post illegitimately with effect from today.

To compound matters, the Police Service Commission that handles his contract is also out of work after its term ended last December.

Coalition government partners are yet to agree on a new PSC board.

According to a document prepared by the MDC-T, Chihuri, who took over from Henry Mukurazhizha in 1991 as acting commissioner before assuming the position on a full time basis in 1993, has had his contract renewed 13 times since his first term expired in 1997.

The document revealed that Chihuri's current term as commissioner-general of the police commenced in January 2008 and would expire at the end of January together with Chiwenga's contract.

"The effect of the provision of Section 18 of the Interpretation Act is such that the change of title from Commissioner of police to Commissioner-General of police is immaterial," the document says. "The Commissioner-General's tenure of office therefore is covered by the provisions of the Police Act."

"According to Section 6, the Commissoner-General's term of office expires at the end of four years. Thereafter, the Commissioner-General may be re-appointed by extending his period of service for 12 months at the end of which in the absence of the letter of appointment extending his services, he ceases to be Commissioner-General of police."