Top cop demoted for challenging Chihuri

A TOP cop  Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Gideon Baloyi has been demoted after he challenged Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi to probe Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri for allegedly covering up high-profile criminal cases and rewarding corrupt officers.

Baloyi is now  at the less prestigious  propol's pool.

The propol's pool is a reserve in the police where officers will not be holding any specific portfolios, making them virtually powerless.

Quoting unnamed sources, NewsDay said Baloyi was expected to assume his new duties at the police provincial headquarters this week.

Baloyi made headlines last year after being slapped with a nine-month jail term for allegedly trying to protect Nevermind Kufakunesu, accused of swindling local businessman Batsirai Mupindu of chickens worth $21 000 in January 2014.

He was later acquitted by the High Court after he successfully appealed against both conviction and sentence. He was then transferred to Masvingo.

Before turning to Mohadi, Baloyi had initially written to Chihuri and Deputy Commissioner-General (Crime) Godwin Matanga raising similar complaints, but got no response.

In a leaked strongly-worded four-page letter titled, ZRP: A Transforming Organisation Weighing Heavily on Transparency, which was copied to President Robert Mugabe, Baloyi "named and shamed" some senior police officers he claimed were walking scot-free despite committing serious crimes. He named one top official (name provided), still serving in the force, who allegedly fatally shot a street kid for stealing his mobile phone.

 He also named an ex-commissioner and a superintendent whose corruption cases were allegedly swept under the carpet while another ex-commissioner left in a huff to claim benefits when charged with criminal abuse of office.

"I am sure this document will not offend particular individuals, but it is meant to correct our organisational policies that laws of the land should not be applied to selected individuals," he said.

"Defeating the course of justice, according to my understanding, applies equally to all public office holders, police officers included. The million dollar question is, 'Will they ever stand trial or they will simply go scot-free."