Police have enough manpower to handle polls

the 10 000 polling stations to be set up countrywide during the referendum scheduled for next Saturday and the forthcoming harmonised elections.

In an interview yesterday, chief police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said it was the force’s constitutional mandate to maintain law and order during the forthcoming plebiscites.
Commissioner-General Augustine 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.

“We as the ZRP are ready to ensure the forthcoming referendum and the harmonised elections are well covered by the police,” said Asst Comm Charamba.

“The police will deploy enough manpower at all the 10 000 polling stations that would be dotted around the country, as we already have enough manpower.”

Asst Comm Charamba said the force had already submitted their budget to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and hope that their budget would be considered to meet transport, travel and subsistence allowances, communication and uniforms.

She said officers had been trained in public order management, Electoral Act amendments and co-ordinating meetings with ZEC and other stakeholders.

Asst Comm Charamba expressed concern over political violence saying it had been exaggerated by some sections of the media.

She said between October last year to date, only five minor cases of political violence had been recorded not 120 as reported by the media.

“The cases were dealt with by the police as they were minor incidents with no injuries. We are appealing to the media to avoid peddling falsehoods, report objectively and balanced,” Asst Comm Charamba said.