The violence, destruction of property and looting of goods that occured in Harare’s central business district (CBD) on Wednesday is intolerable and must be condemned by all peace-loving Zimbabweans — friends and foes alike.
NewsDay Editor
In the same spirit, we condemn police heavy-handedness and indiscriminate bashing of innocent civilians going about their business in the CBD under the guise of enforcing law and order.
Whatever reason the rioters, looters or the police could have, does not justify their actions. In fact, any differences should be addressed amicably. We also urge politicians to avoid inciting their supporters to the detriment of the country.
We believe these events should be reason enough for the country’s political leadership — President Robert Mugabe and opposition forces — to convene urgently to discuss burning issues affecting the populace, otherwise the skirmishes could be a precursor of worse things to come.
But the question is: Does Zimbabwe really deserve this? It appears anyone linked to the establishment has become arrogant to the extent that they do not want to listen to any voice of reason. To national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, we do not celebrate police beatings. It belittles the force itself and undermines the national governance charter.
We believe the citizenry should respect the police force while the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should respect the Constitution in discharging its duties.
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It must be stated that the ZRP does not and should not act as an appendage of any political party. Zimbabweans demand its neutrality in dealing with volatile situations.
So, a video circulating on social media showing riot police throwing a teargas canister into a commuter omnibus full of passengers on Wednesday is unfortunate and makes sad watching. It depicts the typical senselessness, barbarism and gross unprofessionalism of some elements in the ZRP in managing crisis situations.
One can only wonder how throwing a teargas canister into a packed public service vehicle will help defuse the crisis. If anything, this endangers the lives of people, which the police are supposed to protect.
In the video, people are seen jumping off the vehicle and scurrying for safety in a manner that endangers their lives. It is regrettable that the police, who in most instances of peaceful demonstrations provoke the protesters, continue to be used by a clique of failed politicians to suppress the citizens’ democratic right to protest. The zeal with which they do it is quite strange, too, given that they are also victims of the economic malaise Mugabe has presided over in 36 years.
Instead of resolving the crisis, Mugabe (92) and the Zanu PF government have opted to use brute force to suppress the voices of an oppressed people that have been silent for too long.
If once the police could exercise professionalism and allow the demonstrators to march, no one would have found an opportunity to loot shops as happened. But the moment the police bear down on unarmed and peacefully marching citizens, there is bound to be chaos. Is it not sad that almost every time when a demonstration degenerates into violence, it can be traced back right to the “trigger-happy” police officers.
The level of unprofessionalism exhibited by the police is seen particularly in how they indiscriminately arrest people, including journalists doing their job and citizens going about their business peacefully. Many have had to inhale tear smoke unnecessarily as the police often have no clue as to who the culprits are.
No doubt the police need to put their house in order and up their game. Zimbabwe deserves a better, more professional police force that respects citizens whom they are supposed to serve.
