Riots, Response and Bvudzijena

Hey all,

Well, one wonders what to make of all the goings on. Most commentators believe Mugabe will do exactly as he pleases without any reference to the law or anyone else.. but then this evening I hear on the radio news that an accord had been reached on sharing the ministries? I have to admit though, that I have been unable to verify this anywhere on the web. It will be interesting to see what happens - the SADC is now under pressure and seems to be swinging away from Mugabe, Botswana have told him openly that they don't recognise him, Mozambique had serious words with him on the quiet after the "elections", Zambia (if they continue in Mwanase's style) have told him they think he should go and now South Africa, with a new President have started making some uncomfortable noises about him... And still the JOC clings on to power and, I think, this is the central problem - Mugabe's choices are becoming more and more forced - he has created an ever hungry elite amongst the top ZANU-pf membership who, having tasted their ill gotten gains, do now want to let go.. and are afraid of what will follow - the proverbial "tiger by the tail" scenario seems to be emerging..

I wonder where this will all end up.. because it will end. Perhaps it is required that the MDC must give the assurances of no prosecution to the senior generals and Commissioner.. otherwise they are not liable to let go. And whilst this sticks firmly in the craw of dedicated police men and women, myself included, and whilst it may not provide the justice and closure the families and victims so rightly desire, it may just be the short term answer to get rid of the rot and sort things out. And that has to be the best answer, otherwise there will be many more victims and bereaved families around.
Two recent news items stick out for me in regard to the "so called" police. They have been noted for attacking peaceful protests... again! I wonder if the officers involved were the Support Unit, which tends to be the case these days. Before this time of madness, the riot squad generally consisted of officers drawn from stations and deployed against rioters and backed up by the support unit.. but one gets the impression, more and more that the worst acts are carried out by the black boots.

I know also, from personal experience that control of these actions is rested with the Officer Commanding Province (Propol), who usually receives direction and policy directly from PGHQ. I recall listening to the radio in Bulawayo when the MDC offices were under attack by ZANU-pf thugs and was burnt down. Officers on the ground were requesting permission of the Officer Commanding to engage the ZANU-pf thugs and he was holding them off until one of the call signs could stand around no longer and merely reported that they were engaging as "the situation was no out of hand". No doubt that individual, if he was identified, is now an ex member.

What ever the excuses, it is very clear from the my own personal experiences and knowledge and from the results, that the actions or inaction's of the police are very deliberately calculated and very politically motivated.

It just surprises me that it is continuing - either the commanders themselves are unaware of the change about to sweep their lives or they believe they can maintain the status quo indefinitely. I think that if they are truly of the belief that they are never going to be brought to account, they will continue this. I should point out though, that there will be an accounting. And yes, perhaps the JOC and some of the most senior people may get away with it by negotiating their way out, the victims and the law will have their pound of flesh. And I would think that payment will start, perhaps at Deputy Commissioner level, perhaps at Senior Assistant Commissioner level, but payment will be received - I wonder how long it will take those men on the ground to realise that their beloved Field Marshal Commissioner General Chihuri will probably be long gone and they will be left holding the baby? I wonder if it will take too long before the brighter stars start covering their tracks by hanging their erstwhile comrades out to dry?

Hopefully it will be soon and some normalcy can be restored to the policies pursued by the force. And then work can start to rebuild a police force that everyone will trust, rely upon and support.

I notice also that Bvudzijena - the so called "national police spokesman" - is very quiet and these days, more often than not, cannot be reached for comment! Would that be because he is away, trying to find a dark hole into which he can crawl? I certainly hope so.

And on the subject of police commentary, I remember very clearly (although still to young to be a policeman at the time) when Rhodesia transitioned to Zimbabwe, the then Commissioner, P. K. Alum was interviewed as to the police stance on the changing political scene within the country. He was able to clearly answer that "the police would continue to maintain law and order". Something that Chihuri is unable to say (or, indeed, Bvudzijena) because police have NOT maintained Law and Order under his "leadership", quite the opposite is true. Perhaps once we are rid of ZANU-pf militia masquerading as police officers, the next Commissioner will at least be able to say that the police will clean their own house and then ensure that they will bring order back by upholding the law?

Lets hope so.

Later.