Chihuri was disingenuous last week in telling the nation that some people were “stage managing” political violence to give the impression that there was anarchy in Zimbabwe.
While Chihuri did not name the MDC-T specifically, it was clear he was referring to that party’s activists.
Chihuri’s statement came a few days after police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena produced what read like a catalogue of criminal acts perpetrated by MDC-T youths on supposedly innocent Zanu PF supporters.
What emerges from these pronouncements is that Chihuri is vainly attempting to paint the victims of violence as the perpetrators. Some of the victims are right now living in MDC-T safe houses after being displaced from their homes.
While it is not in dispute that MDC-T youths have in recent days launched revenge attacks at Siya So market and some Mbare flats, Chihuri is ignoring the plain reality that organised Zanu PF youths are the instigators of political violence.
Some of these youths marched from Zanu PF headquarters before embarking on an orgy of looting at the Gulf Complex recently.
Testimonies from victims of violence in Mbare — which has become a hotspot — show that the perpetrators are well known members of an illegal vigilante militia called Chipangano.
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We find it therefore unwarranted for Chihuri to come up with all kinds of strange theories for the violence, whose source everyone knows and which is happening in broad daylight.
As the top cop, Chihuri needs to be reminded that he has a constitutional duty to be impartial in his duties. His job is not to protect Zanu PF hooligans but to ensure that perpetrators of political violence irrespective of their political affiliation are brought to book.
Targeting the victims and giving the perpetrators a free rein to commit further acts of violence is a travesty of justice. Chihuri is regrettably setting the wrong tone for the whole police force which needs to be professional and independent if it is to command public confidence.
