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Chihuri blames MDC-T for politically-motivated violence
03 Mar 2011 at 21:03hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has accused political party leaders of fueling politically-motivated violence, saying the MDC-T leadership has been found wanting in most cases of disturbances recorded across the country this year.
Presenting oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs, Commissioner-General Chihuri took a swipe at political parties' leadership for taking advantage of the electorate and leading them in acts of violence.
The police chief went on to present cases of violence recorded this year, in which MDC-T supporters have been accused of 101 cases, with Zanu PF having been cited in 20 cases.
Commissioner-General Chihuri said the MDC-T leadership has been cited in most of the cases of violence, accusing them of systematically planning the disturbances in a bid to influence decisions ahead of any significant event.
"Perpetrations are done ahead of EU meetings, the national anti-sanctions petition, UN meetings - which makes us conclude that there will be a motive to prove that Zimbabwe is a lawless country and thereby influence decisions…the MDC-T leadership is deeply involved in most cases of the violence," he said.
He also mentioned cases in which MDC-T parliamentarians have been cited as political violence perpetrators, with one case involving the Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, whom he accused of assaulting a police constable manning a roadblock.
He however said the police have not taken legal action due to exceptional considerations, but said the case might be pursued any time if the need arises.
Commissioner-General Chihuri dismissed as baseless allegations that police officials apply the law selectively, saying his unit is a professional entity that rarely gets any recognition from stakeholders.
He said: "We perform our duties professionally and our exploits in the region and UN speaks volumes of what we are capable of doing. It is unfortunate that we are however subjected to meager wages."
Zimbabwe's law enforcement agents have received international recognition as witnessed by the confidence shown in them in UN peacekeeping duties in countries such as Liberia, East Timor and Kosovo.
Presenting oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs, Commissioner-General Chihuri took a swipe at political parties' leadership for taking advantage of the electorate and leading them in acts of violence.
The police chief went on to present cases of violence recorded this year, in which MDC-T supporters have been accused of 101 cases, with Zanu PF having been cited in 20 cases.
Commissioner-General Chihuri said the MDC-T leadership has been cited in most of the cases of violence, accusing them of systematically planning the disturbances in a bid to influence decisions ahead of any significant event.
"Perpetrations are done ahead of EU meetings, the national anti-sanctions petition, UN meetings - which makes us conclude that there will be a motive to prove that Zimbabwe is a lawless country and thereby influence decisions…the MDC-T leadership is deeply involved in most cases of the violence," he said.
He also mentioned cases in which MDC-T parliamentarians have been cited as political violence perpetrators, with one case involving the Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, whom he accused of assaulting a police constable manning a roadblock.
He however said the police have not taken legal action due to exceptional considerations, but said the case might be pursued any time if the need arises.
Commissioner-General Chihuri dismissed as baseless allegations that police officials apply the law selectively, saying his unit is a professional entity that rarely gets any recognition from stakeholders.
He said: "We perform our duties professionally and our exploits in the region and UN speaks volumes of what we are capable of doing. It is unfortunate that we are however subjected to meager wages."
Zimbabwe's law enforcement agents have received international recognition as witnessed by the confidence shown in them in UN peacekeeping duties in countries such as Liberia, East Timor and Kosovo.
Source - Byo24News
