Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri yesterday castigated civil society organisations and private media claiming their reports on human rights abuses by the police were “misplaced and unsubstantiated”.
Instead, he said that the police would use the forthcoming referendum and general elections as an opportunity to prove to critics that they could do “an outstanding job in keeping peace”.
“The country is in the process of drafting a new constitution which will culminate in the holding of a referendum and general elections. Obviously, these events and processes are being closely monitored and followed particularly by those countries and institutions that wish Zimbabwe to be declared a police state, among other degrading names,” Chihuri said.
“To this end, I am quite certain that Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the people of Zimbabwe are, once again, going to seize this opportunity to prove these prophets of doom wrong by ensuring a tranquil and peaceful environment before, during and after the aforementioned processes.”
Chihuri also said the police force stood out in promoting the rights of the people.
“As a people’s force, we are a shining beacon in upholding the rights and freedoms of the citizenry, contrary to private media and some civic organisations’ misplaced and unsubstantiated claims of human rights abuses by police,” he said.
Chihuri, who was speaking at a passout parade at Morris Depot, said police were being attacked by critics for supporting the indigenisation policy and the land reform programme, which were both spearheaded by Zanu PF.
“I am aware that ZRP is being vilified for supporting people-oriented policies by the government such as indigenisation and the land reform programme,” he said.
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He, however, said the police would continue to support these policies despite the alleged smear campaign.
