ZANU-PF victimising police officers who voted for Tsvangirai

By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 11, 2008

Police officers who voted for the MDC in the early voting that took place last week have already started being victimised by state agents. Desperate for votes in the coming presidential runoff poll between MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe, the ruling party is forcing police officers and soldiers to cast early ballots, in front of their superiors. This is after warning them that they would be fired if they do not vote for Mugabe.

Our Bulawayo correspondent Sindiso Dube reported that voting was conducted for police officers in Matabeleland from Wednesday until Friday. He said officers who voted for Mugabe were saluted by their superior and told: “Thank you for serving the nation.” Some police officers who were brave enough defied the order and voted for Tsvangirai. Many immediately fled from their home areas, while others have been reportedly detained, and some are missing.

Dube reported that Paradzai Tinogorei, a police officer at Rose Camp in Bulawayo voted for Tsvangirai despite the presence of his superior. He was given a letter ordering him to appear for a disciplinary hearing at Rose camp Monday morning. Dube said Tinogorei was also evicted from his house at the camp and his property was thrown out on Monday. There are reports that he has either fled or was abducted by state agents.

The officer was last seen on Saturday. His friends told our correspondent that 2 CIO agents came looking for him over the weekend. They left their contact numbers at his house, which makes no sense because Dube says the officer lived alone and would not return knowing his life is in danger.

Mugabe is going to great lengths to ensure a victory in the presidential runoff poll on June 27th. He has adopted violence and is using food and other necessities as a political weapon, hoping people will vote for him for their very survival. But those on the ground say this tactic is backfiring, and instead strengthening the resolve of those he has victimised to change the government.