Opinion / Columnist
ZRP got it wrong
04 Nov 2015 at 13:37hrs | Views
If the swiftness in the arresting of the Sunday Mail Editor and his journalists is translated to the rest of the media houses that are in the business of publishing falsehoods based on impeccable sources or unidentified politburo members and other news sources, Zimbabwe would be a better place.
The blatant falsehoods that have been peddled by the private media continue to undermine the person and office of the President but none of the publishers were busted as done to these scribe men who apparently stepped on the toes of a sacred cow. The selective application of the law in this regard is too obvious thereby dragging the reputation of the policing organization into question. Perhaps the ZRP has of late become too important than the President, someone should educate us please.
From the look of things the journos are paying the price of ever mentioning that a Senior Assistant Commissioner is involved in the callous murder of the elephants in Hwange. Instead of investigating to arrest the perpetrators the police have arrested the journalists in a bid to investigate.
Without necessarily condoning transgressions of the law, this time around ZRP could have done their job differently if there is indeed a case against the trio. Poaching just like corruption is bleeding the economy hence it becomes the public's concern to see the faces and names behind such inhuman activities. To then have the peoples' mouthpiece gagged confesses the laxity of getting to the bottom of the matter.
Not that there is something very amiss with Zimbabwe's police service sometimes their reactions do not augur very well with the expectations of the tax payer and the generality of the citizens.
Not so long ago when ZIMRA boss was silenced by the police when he echoed that police proceeds from road blocks and other fines be remitted into the national fiscus. The matter died a natural death yet it was the most fundamental thing to do given the state of government's finances.
Let us have a ZRP that follows up on leads given by the journalist and present the findings to the people than having to witness a dubious backlash on the press.
The hopes and confidence of nipping corruption in the bud lies with the police service hence the need to see the cops acting in good faith is paramount.
The blatant falsehoods that have been peddled by the private media continue to undermine the person and office of the President but none of the publishers were busted as done to these scribe men who apparently stepped on the toes of a sacred cow. The selective application of the law in this regard is too obvious thereby dragging the reputation of the policing organization into question. Perhaps the ZRP has of late become too important than the President, someone should educate us please.
From the look of things the journos are paying the price of ever mentioning that a Senior Assistant Commissioner is involved in the callous murder of the elephants in Hwange. Instead of investigating to arrest the perpetrators the police have arrested the journalists in a bid to investigate.
Without necessarily condoning transgressions of the law, this time around ZRP could have done their job differently if there is indeed a case against the trio. Poaching just like corruption is bleeding the economy hence it becomes the public's concern to see the faces and names behind such inhuman activities. To then have the peoples' mouthpiece gagged confesses the laxity of getting to the bottom of the matter.
Not so long ago when ZIMRA boss was silenced by the police when he echoed that police proceeds from road blocks and other fines be remitted into the national fiscus. The matter died a natural death yet it was the most fundamental thing to do given the state of government's finances.
Let us have a ZRP that follows up on leads given by the journalist and present the findings to the people than having to witness a dubious backlash on the press.
The hopes and confidence of nipping corruption in the bud lies with the police service hence the need to see the cops acting in good faith is paramount.
Source - Caitlin Kamba
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