By Staff Reporter
Police chief Augustine Chihuri ordered the police band not to play the national anthem on Monday as Vice President Joyce Mujuru pulled out of a government conference that was later presided over by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Although Mujuru sent Sylvester Nguni, the Minister of State in her office to represent her, it was a dominantly MDC-T crowd at the launch of the First Annual Medium Plan (MTP) at the Harare International Conference Centre.
After the introductions had been done by the permanent secretary in Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Desire Sibanda, a request was made for the police band to play the national anthem.
With PM Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe and several ministers at the top table standing up for the national anthem, the police band members could be seen whispering to each other while some walked away.
Addressing delegates, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said the attitude of the police band was an embarrassment and a disgrace to the country, adding that their actions were also ‘treasonous.’
“It’s really embarrassing to see the privatisation and personalisation of the national anthem.
“Look, this is a national anthem just as the flag. The band’s actions show how fear has been engrained in our society. We are here launching a government programme and you get this kind of behaviour, it’s really embarrassing.
“I feel embarrassed by this incident and it is a sad reflection of how we do things. This is one of those reasons why some of our policies never materialise.
The MDC-T meanwhile said “the police band was an embarrassment to itself.” Police spokesperson Charity Charamba tried to contain the damage by claiming the police band only plays for the president and his two deputies.
Although mid-way through the programme, the police band said it was ready to perform Mashakada jumped to the podium, grabbed the microphone and said: “Let’s skip that phase, it’s already gone. Let’s move on with the programme.”
Mashakada demanded that “stern measures” be taken against the police band. But speaking to Nehanda Radio on Monday evening a member of the police band said the instructions for them not to play the national anthem had come from the police chief Augustine Chihuri.
