State Media Demands That Police Bosses Come Clean On Lockdown Abuse
The Herald, a daily publication under the State-owned Zimpapers stable, has slammed the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for “deliberately misinterpreting application of the lockdown rules”.
Police officers have come under scrutiny since the government imposed the national lockdown on 30 March in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Journalists have made several complaints about the behaviour of “rogue” police elements who routinely detain and assault reporters who will be carrying out their duties lawfully.
Moreover, police officers deployed to control mealie meal queues at supermarkets have been accused of misappropriating the commodity and selling it on the black market.
In one instance, police officers reportedly fired teargas at citizens who were queuing for mealie meal in Kuwadzana so that they could buy all the subsidised product.
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In Mutare, police officers recently seized several tonnes of fresh farm produce from farmers at a market and destroy everything.
The Herald editor suspects that based on their actions, police officers have a hidden political agenda. He comments:
… how does one explain the conduct of officers who appear to operate on their own terms and in complete defiance of the circular/order, if one was issued? Or could we be witnessing cases of rogue (G40) elements, determined to soil the reputation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police?
It would be helpful for the police to clarify this matter once and for all. In cases where media practitioners have tried to capture the wayward conduct of the police, the officers even had the audacity — in two particular incidents — to try and confiscate equipment from the media personnel.
The unfortunate impression is that someone is pursuing a certain agenda. How is it, that even against the backdrop of journalists facing harassment from police officers, the police hierarchy has not issued a public statement correcting or reprimanding their wayward officers?
