I AM one of those many people in Zimbabwe who would be happy if the police were to come clean on roadblock money. The pressure currently being exerted on the police to make available audited statements on the use of the millions they collect at roadblocks is justified.
Kamurai Mudzingwa
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is a public institution and they have no justification for refusing to disclose how they use public funds, unless they have something serious to hide. The recent public spat between the cops and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) over the money makes ordinary people like me very suspicious.
Zimra claimed that the cops collect between $3m and $7m every day, but the cops were not amused and accused the Zimra chief of being a failure, ignorant and a peddler of falsehoods. This tirade was surely not called for. It makes us even more suspicious about how the money is being used. If the money is collected transparently and is used in a responsible manner, why did the cops not simply take their documented evidence to Zimra and the public?
Someone within the police force needs to be told that the ZRP, as a public institution, should be accountable to other relevant government agencies and the public. Why the police seem vindictive for being asked to show evidence of accountability raises a stink.
They should know that the money they collect at roadblocks is public money and the force is not some kind of unlisted private company that is not mandated to disclose its financial dealings.
What kind of image does it give when a country’s police force collects money, pockets it and threatens anyone who dares to ask them what they are using it for? Why is it difficult for the ZRP to simply release the audited statements that show how the money is being used? Even the most illiterate treasurer of a burial society knows that when you are the custodian of public funds, you have to be accountable and transparent unless you are hiding something. So, when the ZRP refuses to explain how they use public funds collected at roadblocks, they should not hate us when our suspicions are aroused.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
There are many questions that arise from the use of the money and the cops cannot hide behind intimidation. We do not see any improvement in the force.
There is no marked improvement in infrastructure at police stations and in police camps (I grew up in a police camp myself). Most junior cops are lodgers in various high-density suburbs and they struggle to go to work daily, since the force cannot provide them with transport. It is now made worse because no sane driver gives the cops a lift because of their attitudes at roadblocks.
If one reports a crime, the cops usually say they have no transport to attend to the crime scene.
The cops still use archaic equipment and there has been no improvement in their welfare, but they collect millions of dollars a month at roadblocks (we will believe Zimra until the cops prove them wrong). These are facts that are open for everyone to see day in, day out.
So when the people ask where these millions go to they are being genuine. They have all the reasons to suspect foul play, especially when bad and threatening language is used in lieu of audited statements. We still have the ($15 billion) diamonds’ case fresh in our minds.
Those who called for transparency in the diamond sector were arrested or intimidated, but we later learned it was a cover up for the looting that resulted in billions of lost revenue. Why should we not be suspicious when the ZRP behaves in a similar fashion?
After all we know what happens at those roadblocks better because we pass through several every day. If our situation was normal would the ZRP be allowed to collect such amounts of money and would they show us the middle finger by refusing to disclose how they are using our money? I think the ZRP should do the simple and honourable thing — come clean on roadblock money if they have nothing to hide.
●Feedback: [email protected]
