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He said the force denounced any forms of violence and would not hesitate to arrest those found on the wrong side of the law.
“We denounce any forms of violence and those found wanting would have themselves to blame. We want to reassure loving Zimbabweans that they are going to exercise their democratic rights in a peaceful environment,” Comm-Gen Chihuri said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri has already appointed an election commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Lee Muchemwa. He will be deputised by Asst Comm Sithulisiwe Mokuele in co-ordinating and planning for the plebiscite.
The police chief said law and order was key to peace, tranquility, national development and empowerment.
Comm-Gen Chihuri took a swipe at Britain and its western allies for continuing to meddle in the country’s political affairs.
“The British, Americans and the Europeans are saying they want to be here to monitor our elections. Who are they and do they have four eyes to see?” asked Comm-Gen Chihuri.
He said Zimbabwe and Africa had the capacity to do things on their own without the help of the Europeans.
“Whenever they have elections in their country (Britain) they don’t invite us. My officers are good and next time they have elections they must invite the ZRP and I will deploy them,” Comm Gen Chihuri said.
Britain recently said Zimbabwe’s forthcoming polls would only be free and fair if the country invites the European Union observer team, a move political analysts described as prejudging the elections
Government said it had invited observers for the constitutional referendum from Sadc, Comesa, the African Union and other friendly countries, but will not entertain those from the European Union and the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi recently said that observers from friendly countries would also be invited for the harmonised elections. He said EU and US observers would not be allowed to monitor electoral processes in Zimbabwe as long as illegal sanctions they imposed on the country were in place.
Zimbabwe is set to hold the referendum next Saturday.
Police recently said they had adequate manpower for all the 10 000 polling stations to be set up countrywide during the referendum scheduled for next Saturday and the forthcoming harmonised elections.
Chief police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said it was the force’s constitutional mandate to maintain law and order during the forthcoming plebiscites.
The force will deploy enough manpower at all the 10 000 polling stations countrywide.
Meanwhile, 12 senior officers are expected to leave the country for South Sudan on a United Nations peacekeeping mission while four others have returned on a similar mission from Liberia.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said the 12 officers who would be going for a special assignment as trainers were selected after a competitive selection process which was complemented by a panel of experts at the UN Department of peacekeeping operations in New York.
He said the UN was satisfied with their professional stature to fill the specialised assignment.
“As an organisation we are humbled by the honour our officers bring to the country by their constant demonstration of professional acumen. It is this light of professionalism that radiates, attracts, persuades and convinces by their constant demonstration of professional acumen,” Comm-Gen Chihuri said.
He said as ZRP, their philosophy towards work, the quest, desire and appetite for professionalism was now a self-driven obligation and motivation.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said it was his hope that the departing officers would excel in their mandated tasks and have a unity of purpose.
“Unity bodes well for a nation. Unity as an attribute is a measure of discipline within an organisation or a nation. The fabric of the nation is held together by discipline. Discipline is foundational platform for generational legacy.
“Discipline is what sustains our relations as a people. Discipline therefore defines the national character and values,” he said.
He said the Police Service Charter attributes clearly the values they emphasised in their relation and interaction with the public.
Online Reporter