Zim police history in black and white

Andrew Moyo
POLICE Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri has launched a book titled “The History of Policing in Zimbabwe” in which he chronicles the transformation of the force from the pre-Independence era to date. At the launch in Harare on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said: “The book takes you through the development of policing in Zimbabwe from the pre-colonial era, through the colonial period to post-independence Zimbabwe.

“It is such a rich repository or storehouse of information that I can only give snippets of what the author says about each of the phases of policing I have referred to.”

The book, which is premised on Comm-Gen Chihuri’s PhD thesis, also catalogues some of the drastic changes the police underwent under the incumbent’s leadership, including enhancing education, training and addressing gender of imbalances.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said: “The book shows that the main aim of policing during the colonial era was to entrench colonial hegemony. It shows how the BSAP was part of the Pioneer Column which orchestrated the colonisation of Zimbabwe through deception and chicanery.”
His 14 year-old daughter, Samantha also launched her novel, titled “Chaotic”.

“To my beloved daughter Samantha, I say, you have set yourself on an ambitious and daring task, continue dreaming big,” said the police boss.
Present at the launch were Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora, MPs and senior police officers from Zambia.