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Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed a story by NewsDay on Saturday claiming that police were aligned to Zanu-PF as they allegedly chanted the party’s slogan at the Harare Agricultural Show.
The report alleged that ZRP members on Friday came clean on their political allegiance when hundreds of them thronged the Harare Agricultural Show and chanted Zanu-PF slogans, raising fists, the party’s style and sang songs in praise of President Mugabe.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the story was misguided.
She said the police did no chant the slogan but only raised their fists symbolising black power.
“As ZRP we are perturbed and concerned by the NewsDay story titled ‘Cops chant Zanu-PF slogan as State aligned organisations steal the show.’ A fist is a symbol of black power and it was in line with our winning of three gold medals at the Harare Agricultural Show. A fist is an internationally recognised symbol of black power,” she said.
ZRP scooped three awards, The Chairman’s Floating Trophy, The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Floating Trophy and the Best Overall Exhibit.
“Since time immemorial up to the time of the first Olympic Games, the first African to win gold in the athletics discipline, Jesse Owens, a black person, was disqualified after raising a fist in celebration. We all talk to God in different ways.
“We all pray in different ways but for the African sportsperson, he gets his inspiration and energy from God to compete and celebrate by shooting the right fist to heaven to say, ‘God take the Glory’ and the ZRP is no exception,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said ZRP sportspersons were athletes at heart and in flesh who celebrated victory through a Zimbabwean symbol.
She said the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society was not a State organisation as implied by the NewsDay report.
“This was also evidenced by the attendance of countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe who were also exhibiting at the show. The ZRP won on merit contrary to John Nyashanu’s wild assumptions and after all, who is he to determine what police should do?” Snr Asst
Comm Charamba asked.
She said police were obliged to bestow honour and respect to President Mugabe since he is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, who was the guest of honour at the event.
“The ZRP is a patriotic force, which is not perturbed by reporters who bootlick their paymasters and peddle falsehoods and frame stories to confuse the generality of Zimbabweans. After all, is ZRP not allowed to celebrate when they win three gold medals?
“Perhaps, there is no better judgment than that John Nyashanu should learn from his suspended Editor Constantine Chimakure, for writing falsehoods. He is certainly following in the footsteps of his discredited mentor,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
Online Reporter