Confidence in security sector surges: Survey

appreciating the role of public institutions.
The report said trust in public institutions converged between supporters of Zanu-PF and MDC formations.
“The comparative ratings of public institutions reflect the changing 2012 political landscape. Not only is the level of trust for some of the security forces, including the police, very high, it is also notable that many aspects of the practice of the inclusive Government get credit from supporters of both the main parties,” the report revealed.
“These respondents also agree on most of the attributes that they wish to see in their government.”
According to the survey, it was only the trust in the judiciary and Attorney General’s Office, which was lower than 50 percent among MDC-T supporters.
“All of the established institutions of government substantially improved trust, including the military and the police. Besides the office of the Prime Minister, it is only the judiciary and the office of the Attorney General that had public trust lower than 50 percent,” reads the report.
The question that had been posed was “in the current Zimbabwe, how much do you trust each of the institutions?” The survey showed a surge from 16 percent to 40 percent of people who said they trusted “a lot” the police, while the military ratings rose from 16 percent to 41 percent. The Office of the President rose from 19 percent to 42 percent, while traditional leaders rose from 26 percent to 35 percent.
The survey had shown that Zanu-PF popularity had surged while that of the MDC-T had plummeted.
The report said the dismal performance by the MDC-T in local government where most of its councillors were accused of corruption cost the party in its ratings. “These points also help shed light on the MDC-T’s sub-optimal performance. It has been unsuccessful in living up to popular expectations . . . its clear commitment to human rights and the pursuit of associated programmes in recent years cracked under the pressure of it being in government,” read the report.
“Its (MDC-T) record in local government was also one that did not elevate it over Zanu-PF, it became seen as fallible in local government.”
Commenting on the ratings on local government, MDC-T spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, said what was critical was that they had taken disciplinary action against the councillors.
“The MDC is the only party that has taken action against its councillors, we have taken action against councillors in Chitungwiza. We carried out a report of council and five officials will appear before a disciplinary committee soon,’” he said.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Cde Rugare Gumbo, on Wednesday said the West was now realising that the MDC-T had nothing to offer.