Professionalism, Corruption, MoU

Hello All,

The bearded man pointed out a story to me that is very pertinent in showing the confusion, paranoia and complete unprofessional behaviour of the ZANU-PF militia!

The report emanates from ZWnews.com and can be read by clicking here.

The report states:

Masvingo - Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson, Wayne Bvudzijena is now reportedly editing all violence related stories by the Herald, Radio VOP can reveal. In an announcement that shocked other news editors gathered in Masvingo, The Herald news editor, Isdore Guvamombe, who is also a former freedom fighter, openly told workshop participants that the ZRP had demanded to see all stories on violence and that they therefore, had to send them to Bvudzijena for clearance before publishing. Guvamombe said while Bvudzijena could not write copy like journalists, they just had to publish what he would have cleared. The news editor said this had been done for security reasons, probably explaining why MDC violence reports are never published by the paper. Guvamombe said he would continue sending copy to Bvudzijena every day and would only publish after the ZRP spokesman had cleared the violence reports. Guvamombe said he did not expect any foul play in the write ups as the ZRP was 'very professional'.

So now the ZANU-PF militia (the so-called present ZRP) is extending it's propaganda machinery into the formal press by controlling what they print? And this is professional?? Bvudzijena and others like him, throughout the Zimbabwe Republic Police need to be giving their attestation (basically their oath to serve) some serious thought. And they need to be paying due diligence to the Police Act. These people are in breach of many aspects of the Law, the Constitution and their duties as police officers. They will be made to account for their actions.

And I think it is a point here to remind ourselves that pretty much everything ZANU-PF has done since the 2000 referendum has been illegal. Certainly right now the Junta controlling Zimbabwe is illegal and every single police officer (and soldier or air force member or Prisons Officer) needs to be thinking very hard about what a "lawful" order is, what it means and why they, as police officers, need to be very clear that the "party" is NOT the government and is not the duly elected representative of the people. Presidential decrees are not legal and, in many cases, ride roughshod over the law - and these are things that will need to be addressed.

I was also considering corruption in Zimbabwe now. And this has become a very deep rooted epidemic, affecting virtually every aspect of life and, in particular, every thing the ZANU-PF militia do (I am loathe to call them a police force as they could not be further from it at the moment!). I have a great deal of information on many cases of absolute corruption - people in Zimbabwe, particularly the rich whites still making a killing there, need to also be thinking hard. It is now an accepted fact of life that the police will act, or not act depending on how much money, which contacts you have and really nothing follows any semblance of law enforcement at all any more. This is going to be a gargantuan task to reverse. I would think that a special task force will need to be set up and actively engaged in investigating and stinging both police officers and members of the public. We need to return to the days when bribing a cop was a very risky business indeed.

Funnily enough though, I have had dealings in the past couple of years with the Presidents Office corruption desk - in particular a chap called Andy. And he is exactly the type of chap we need. If, of course, he hasn't given up, been threatened or anything else. He was extremely motivated in following up stories allegations and was very active in bringing offenders, from any side of the line to book. On two cases I involved him in, I was very impressed with his diligence!

Corruption is the biggest single factor in the downfall of the police. I am aware that many people have had to resort to corrupt engagements with the police to just get what any normal citizen is due, such as passports, foreign currency, police clearance certificates (which some countries still demand - and to what end I have no idea since they are not worth the paper they are written on!), birth certificates, drivers licences - in fact virtually every aspect of normal life has become a corrupt practise - simply put, if you don't pay, you don't get.

But the dealings with the police interest me the most and here, again, I have seen great contrast. There are still officers who actually just want to do the job properly (although they appear to be a shrinking minority, probably more through necessity than anything else) and there are those who truly are lost. The problem is so bad that con artists, the fraudsters and that type of individual have all got a pet policeman on tap that gets them off the hook or diverts attention away from them. And here I have seen some Officers-in-charge of Harare suburban police stations heavily involved in these behaviours. Funnily enough, the Officers Commanding District seem to be much less involved and still quite genuinely interested in policing.

Sadly, until investigations really get into this cess-pit, we will never know and, I suspect will be truly shocked by who is and who isn't involved.

And this is such a long topic to consider, people routinely make reports against people they view as business rivals, or use CIO personnel to collect debts. I have had particularly unpleasant dealing with two of the most corrupt members of the CIO I have ever come across - and the interesting part is that they are firmly under the control of criminal white businessmen in Harare - I have kept a great amount of information and really do hope for the day that investigations can be launched - it will be interesting to see who is heading for the hills then!

And so the much vaunted MoU had been signed amid much smiling and handshaking between the parties. I do hope that this produces some results. I will not be publishing the MoU here as it can be found in almost a zillion places on the net - but I did want to comment on a couple of things agreed to..

Firstly:

(b) POLITICAL
(i) New Constitution
(ii) Promotion of equality, national healing and cohesion, and unity
(iii) External interference
(iv) Free political activity
(v) Rule of law
(vi) State organs and institutions
(vii) Legislative agenda priorities


Section (b)
part (ii) - does this mean that as a white policeman, I will be eligible to promotion and be treated as a full member of the force? (something that hasn't been the case for over 15 years now!). Maybe I will even get my GSM and LSM???

part (v) - Does this mean we want to re-establish the Rule of Law? If so, does it mean that persons who committed offences will be arrested? Indeed if that is the case, the police will shrink by about 80% - so what next???


10. Interim measures

10.1 Security of persons
(a) Each Party will issue a statement condemning the promotion and use of violence and call for peace in the country and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it controls are not engaged in the perpetration of violence.
(b) The Parties are committed to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and justly to all persons irrespective of political affiliation.

If these parts are to be read together, how will the ZRP function? They have long ago lost their ability to function and have no hope of investigating anything unless they are permitted to beat a confession out of an accused!

I recall that recently I was at a local Harare police station were plain clothes officers were investigating a string of House Breaking and theft offences. I had to go into the office to obtain something from one of the officers and I recall that when I went into the office, the accused was lying on the ground whilst these two plain clothes so-called police men were beating him with 60mm armoured cable. When I questioned them, they said it was the cheapest and easiest way of closing the CR - and, after all, they "knew" this accused person was responsible! I didn't press the matter with them and when I reported to the officer in charge, he became decidedly frosty towards me and told me that this was Zimbabwe, not Rhodesia and Zimbabwean police officers knew what they were doing! Erm... wasn't the Rhodesian government and BSAP accused of brutality? I seem to be confused!

Clearly a solution is required for Zimbabwe and this solution must culminate in the removal of the illegal Junta and free and fair elections under the rule of law must be achieved - I just wonder how realistic that is????

Later.