Chihuri sacks cops for probing Zanu PF

Police commissioner Augustine Chihuri has sacked over 1000 police officers accused of doing their job by investigating perpetrators of Zanu PF violence. Some of them were detained and badly brutalised while still
in the force.

UK based The Zimbabwean newspaper quotes Co-minister of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa, saying the affected officers had the right to appeal for reinstatement.

“The officers should launch appeals against unfair dismissal to the police service commission stating how they were discharged. Then I will hear from the commission about the complaints. I only knew of a few cases of politically motivated dismissals, I did not know the alleged victimization was so wide spread,” Mutsekwa said.

The paper further reports that the officers were allegedly dismissed from work and in some cases assaulted or murdered by Zanu PF militia. The thugs teamed up with CIO agents and the army at the behest of police assistant commissioners Everisto Pfumvute, Bobby Murwira, Makodza, Mthambeni and Chihuri.

Constable Admire Takawira of Macheke police station was fired from the force after he had attempted to investigate Zanu (PF) youths who burnt down suspected MDC supporters’ houses.

“The trial officer Chief Superintendent Mutema told me that my trial was a
formality as Chihuri wanted a conviction leading to dismissal. I spent 31
days in detention barracks before dismissal from the force without benefits.
The conviction indicated that I was found guilty of participating in
politics,’ said Takawira.

According to sources, Zanu (PF) youths in Mashonaland East made lists of
police officers who stopped them from abducting MDC supporters during the election period.

“The names of the officers were forwarded to Zanu (PF) Provincial
Headquarters and Assistant Commissioner Mthambeni of Marondera district
before they were submitted to Chihuri for further action. Chihuri would
immediately order the arrest of the policemen and eventual dismissal,” said
an Assistant Commissioner at PGHQ. Source: The Zimbabwean