by Innocent Mujeri
Political analysts have asserted that the blockage of the ZANU PF demonstration by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has clearly proved that the police and other state apparatuses are not captured by ZANU PF or Government as widely believed by the opposition political parties and civil society organisations.
This follows the denial by the police to grant ZANU PF permission to stage a demonstration against the killing of a black American, George Floyd, by the USA police and the illegal economic sanctions at the USA Embassy today.
Political analysts, Nobleman Runyanga, said the blockage of the ZANU PF demonstration by the police shows that the police are a professional entity which discharges its duties on non-partisan lines.
“The police don't need any handholding by someone in order for them to discharge its mandate. They are a competent force which discharges its mandate professionally. The blockage of the ZANU PF demonstration, therefore pours cold water on the widely believed notion that the police is captured by ZANU,” said Runyanga.
Another political analyst Dr Clever Nyuki, also echoed Runyanga’s assertion and reiterated that State institutions are manned by professional and competent people who discharge their duties on non-partisan lines.
“The ban of the ZANU PF demonstration implicates all those who had a false belief that our police are not independent. ZANU PF is the ruling party and the denial by the police for the party to stage a demonstration is a slap on the face of some MDC members who falsely accuse the police of being a ZANU PF extension,” said Dr Nyuki
After the denial by police to grant ZANU PF permission to stage a demonstration, the party did not object and said that they were bound by the laws of the land.
“This is in line with the President and Government directive for all Zimbabweans to abide by the national lockdown regulations in so far as the country is fighting to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. Needless political gatherings are therefore contrary to this directive and the nation must stand guided,” said ZANU PF Acting Spokesperson Cde Chinamasa.
Chinamasa’s words were echoed by ZANU PF Commissariat director, Dr Davison Gomo, who said the party was bound by the laws of the land and they will comply with the decision of the police.
The MDC had all along been accusing State institutions such as the security sector and the courts of being captured and controlled by ZANU PF. However, the MDC had on several times got satisfactory services from these institutions.
On 14 February 2020, MDC MP Job Sikhala, who was arrested and charged with treason in July last year, was acquitted of all the charges by Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze.
Similarly, on 8 March this year, the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa obtained a provisional court order barring the Zimbabwean Government from disbursing over Z$7 million to Chamisa’s rival in the MDC, Thokozani Khupe.
Analyst, Tendai Guta, said the MDC only praised the State institutions when they deliver a service which is favourable to them.
“The MDC people are hypocrites. They praise the police and the courts when they deliver a service which is favorable to them, but cry foul when the same institutions flags them offside. Ironically, the same MDC rushes to the same ‘captured’ police and ‘captured’ courts when they are wronged,” said Guta.
On 13 May, this year, the MDC youths led by Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marowa defied police orders that ban demonstrations amid COVID-19 pandemic and staged an illegal demonstration in Warren Park which resulted in their arrest.
