POLICE Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri yesterday said the Western-imposed sanctions were aimed at collapsing the police force, but was grateful that the July elections ushered in a new people’s government sensitive to the plight of police officers.
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Speaking at the Commissioner-General of Police’s 2013 fund raising horse race at Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare, Chihuri said the welfare of police officers suffered severe neglect under the inclusive government.
“We are grateful that the just-ended harmonised elections ushered in a new people’s government that is sensitive to the plight of police officers,” he said.
“Sanctions were aimed to collapse the work of the police. The GNU (Government of National Unity) ignored the welfare of the police force and their orphans.”
Chihuri is one of Zimbabwe’s service chiefs who have openly supported President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, a stance that drew the ire of other parties which were in the inclusive government, with the ruling party.
The horse race is an annual event aimed at raising funds for widows and orphans of police members. Chihuri said to date the fund had supported over 400 families and was set to be expanded to cater for more beneficiaries outside the force.
Deputy Home Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was guest of honour, expressed concern at the increasing number of police officers murdered during their course of duty.
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“This should be condemned. Such acts of violence against the law enforcement agents have no place in our society,” he said. Ziyambi applauded the fund raising initiative saying its role in developing human capital should not be underestimated. He urged government to support such programmes.
