Who will protect the police?

those in uniform are not safe? One reader has appealed to the Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri to safeguard the citizens of this country when they go about their business, especially in kombis or at busy bus terminus.
It is unheard of for civilians to assault the police. Something is going on. There are several cases where policemen have lost their lives in the course of their duties. This trend is unacceptable. Who is going to protect the defenceless women and children in a society where the police have become victims?
Once again, the outcry from the police against the release, on bail, of dangerous criminals, has been highlighted. What kind of justice is it when criminals roam the streets assaulting those in uniform with impunity?
The lawlessness prevalent on our streets especially in the cities and towns has to come to and end. The major problem is that human rights organisations always concentrate on politics. The ever recycled topic is about political violence during campaigning and voting during elections.
But the other forms of violence are never talked about. There is violence against women and children. Now, there is violence against those in uniform. The people travelling in kombis are inconvenienced by never ending roadblocks which is dubbed “policing”.
This has been frustrating the travelling public. All over the world, those in uniform are respected for acting fairly and safeguarding the security of the ordinary person. On many occasions, people have gone out of their way to assist policemen with transport either going to work or coming back from work. They are human beings like all of us.
Do some people understand that the uniform represents the State? Whenever a police officer is uniform, he or she represents the  security of the citizens. There was such revulsion everywhere when people read what happened to a female police officer in uniform.
There are times I have seen police officers in a queue. At one time, I escorted them to the front of the queue so that they could be served first and go on to perform their security duties.
It is not just giving respect to the individual but to the uniform he or she is wearing. Of course, there those that abuse their uniforms. It is human nature to do wrong sometimes. But the essence of our security is with those in uniform.
Whether it is at football grounds or at  any other gathering, the security of law-abiding citizens must be guaranteed. The conditions in which those uniform do their work, sometimes leave a lot to be desired.
Here I am referring to the police camps dotted around the country. Surely, it does not cost much to paint the houses and put walls around them. Bricks could be used to enclose the police camps to preserve their privacy.
Sometimes, it is unexplainable to see police camps around the suburbs of Harare, for example in a sorry state. How can we maintain the morale of those in uniform if their living conditions are not improved?
For those in uniform to stay in lodgings where criminals prowl is to expose them to some danger. What I am concerned about is that society seems to accept such conditions which compromises its own security.
To start with, criminals must never be treated with kid gloves wherever they raise their heads. If they cannot be reformed then there are places that they may have to see sense. In other countries, they have adopted a system where those released on bail are fitted at the ankles with a device that monitors their movements.
This enables the police to keep track of those on bail. This may be very expensive in Zimbabwe to carry out. The only solution then would be to deny these criminals bail until their cases are heard.
I have always wondered why our resources are plundered by poachers when we know that Parks and Wildlife guards are inadequate to deal with the situation. Why not send special army units to get rid of poachers for once and all time?
For example, it is estimated that Southern Africa may lose about 600 rhinos and many elephants to poachers in one year alone. Poaching is not just a menace, but is a security issue. This part of the world depends on tourism which brings cash to the fiscus to sustain progammes for the whole nation.
Not only that, but to guarantee the freedom and security of movement of the citizens of this country. We are at peace, and therefore, the army could be deployed to safeguard our har-won independence by protecting our wildlife and the security of our visitors and citizens at the same time.
If this deployment takes place, society would be grateful and respect the people in uniform. Our security apparatus belongs to the State and the people. If they have not earned our respect, then something is fundamentally wrong. I believe we owe our independence and living in freedom and security of life to them.