Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has come out guns blazing, rubbishing sensational social media claims that a shadowy group called the Southern African Regional Anti Corruption Organisation worked with the force to take down five cops in a so called sting operation.
In a hard hitting statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the allegations circulating online were not only false but dangerous. They warned the public against believing groups that parade themselves as anti corruption watchdogs without proper authority.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police dismisses claims by the Southern African Regional Anti Corruption Organisation and subsequent social media postings alleging that they worked together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Internal Investigations Section to conduct a sting operation which resulted in the arrest of five Zimbabwe Republic Police members for corruption,” said Comm Nyathi.
In fact, police said SARACO has absolutely nothing to do with them. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police has no association or cooperating arrangement with Southern African Regional Anti Corruption Organisation,” said the national spokesperson. He reminded the public that only the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission can clear any group purporting to fight graft.
Comm Nyathi clarified that whatever arrests were made had nothing to do with SARACO. “For the record, the Zimbabwe Republic Police effected the purported arrest without the involvement of the Southern African Regional Anti Corruption Organisation.”
He went further to warn rogue officers who might privately associate with such groups. “Any private arrangement or association with individual officers to engage in activities not sanctioned by the Commissioner General of Police will be dealt with in terms of the law without fear or favour.”
Comm Nyathi warned “fake anti corruption outfits” trying to ride on the police name for clout.
He urged the public to ignore misleading online chatter and rely on official communication from the police and legally recognised bodies.
derick.khumalo