Police ask relatives to feed inmates as magistrates’ strike continues

By Henry Makiwa
20 November 2007

Police are failing to cope with the growing numbers of inmates in custody, as the strike by magistrates goes into its fourth week. It has been established that in a number of prison and holding cells, inmates are being exposed to disease outbreaks as cells are now dangerously overcrowded.

To compound the crisis, clerks, interpreters, typists and other supporting staff have also now joined the strike action in solidarity with magistrates and prosecutors.

At Bulawayo Central Police station, police have posted a notice asking relatives and friends of incarcerated inmates to bring them food from home, as they are incapable of feeding them. The notice also asks for water and sanitary provisions, which are scarce in Zimbabwe’s parched second largest city. There are also reports that police officers are lining their pockets with bribes taken from suspects and criminals who pay to be set free.

Journalist, Nqobani Ndlovu said many magistrates in Bulawayo have resigned and four criminal courts in the city have shut down.

Ndlovu added: “Protests over low pay and poor working conditions have led to a serious brain drain in the judiciary. The government has been receiving many resignations as most of the experienced staff, both on the bench and the prosecutors, are leaving in search of greener pastures in neighbouring countries. This also exposes government’s misplaced priorities of spending billions on militarisation when other vital sectors of the country are crumbling down.”

The Standard newspaper last week reported that some citizens seeking marriage certificates have to acquire them outside the country because of the strike.

Chief police spokesman, Wayne Bvudzijena, admitted to the state media on Monday that the police have no capacity to feed suspects as food and water shortages continue to bite. He however reiterated that the police would continue “arresting people who break the laws of the country”.

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