Police boss demands guava juice during visit to police stations

THE officer commanding police in the Midlands province Senior Assistant Commissioner Shadreck Mubaiwa has demanded that he be bought 100% guava juice during his four-day visit to police stations in Kwekwe.

Mubaiwa is due to visit police stations in Kwekwe Central, Redcliff, Amaveni, Silobela, Mbizo, Kwekwe Rural and Zhombe from today to November 21 and has demanded that each of the above stations raise $50 for his out-of-station allowances in addition to buying him breakfast and 100% guava juice.

In a leaked police radio communication marked WM739/14, the acting Kwekwe district commanding officer (Dispol) Superintendent Wilbert Mandigora notified the 10 stations Mubaiwa would be visiting to raise $50 each for his allowance and to purchase guava juice.

"Stations and sections to brace up for the visit by making stations and sections appealing to the visitor (sic)," reads part of the radio communication.

"Stations and sections to take heed of the following: Stations to provide quarter-guard on arrival of the Propol. Kwekwe Central to have additional quarter-guard to welcome visitor in our district."

Although the police stations Mubaiwa will visit are seven in total, the Kwekwe Traffic section, minerals unit and border controls are being viewed separately for the Propol's $50 allowance, according to the radio communication.

"Each station to contribute $50, CID $50, traffic $50, minerals and border controls unit $50. Please note that quotations supplied have led to the increase of contributions to $50."

Mandigora further instructs all stations to purchase guava juice as part of the breakfast and lunch requirements for the police boss.

Mubaiwa will pocket $500 squeezed from junior officers at each station or section.

Police sources said they were angry at being forced to pay for Mubaiwa's upkeep when his visits were part of his official duties.

"He is supposed to draw his allowances from government coffers and not from the pockets of suffering police officers who earn as little as $280 a month," said a police officer from Redcliff, which Mubaiwa will visit today.

"We have now been asked to contribute $2 each so that we buy the breakfast and juice and still pay the $50."