Minister evades questions on army border deployments

Deputy Home Affiars minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on Wednesday evaded questions as to why there was too much deployment of police and the army along the country's borders.

Zanu PF Rushinga senator Damian Mumvuri  had asked Ziyambi to respond to allegations that there were  more soldiers at the border crossings, "both illegal and legal ones than the police details. Who is policing the borders or has your Ministry enlisted the services of the military in order to do the policing?

Ziyambi responded, "There is a Border Control Unit which is comprised of several members of our security sector and among them is the police force. We do not control the numbers as a Ministry as to the final composition. So I would not respond as to why there are more soldiers.

"I would respond as to why may be, if there were less police officers there, but there is a Border Control Unit which monitors the border and among those, soldiers are supposed to be there as well as our police force," Ziyambi said.

Mumvuri said he was not satisfied with the deputy minister's response.

"I would like to thank the hon. senator and I will repeat myself. If our borders are not manned by all the members of the security sector, the country will be at risk. There is a Joint Operation Command which involves the police, of which we are part of.

"I will not speak for the other members, but the police are part of it and they are carrying out their mandate fully."