Published by the government of Zimbabwe
9 September 2008
Harare — POLICE Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has paid special tribute to South African President Thabo Mbeki, who arrived in the country yesterday, for the "unwavering, tireless and brotherly mediation role" he is undertaking between Zimbabwe's main political parties.
President Mbeki, who is facilitating the inter-party talks between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations, is expected to get MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to sign the power-sharing agreement between the three main political parties.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Commissioner-General (Administration) Godwin Matanga at a send-off ceremony of 13 officers who left the country for United Nations peacekeeping duties in Liberia, Comm-Gen Chihuri said President Mbeki's role was commendable.
The ceremony was also held to welcome nine officers who were returning from the West African country where they had been on a similar assignment.
"Allow me to pay special tribute to His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, whose unwavering, tireless and brotherly mediation role has been commendable," Comm-Gen Chihuri said.
He said Zimbabwe had been held hostage by detractors and this had also contributed to the various economic challenges the country was facing.
"We have all seen how our country and our people have been burdened beyond measure and above strength by a myriad of machinations by detractors.
"President Mbeki's contribution has shown that we have the capacity to solve our differences as a country without the use of swollen language and poking fingers and grandstanding antics of detractors," he said.
President Mbeki was mandated to mediate in talks between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations at the Sadc Extraordinary Summit held in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, on March 31 last year.
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Where on earth has a police commissioner paid tribute to politicians unless if he has bones in his cupboard he is likely to curry favour? Chihuri should know that he will be held accountable for harassing or killing members of the opposition. Mwari ndewevanhu vose kurumbidza Tabo Mbeki uchitadza kuchengetedza amai, vanasekuru ne harawa dzeZimbabwe. You are Muppet to hell with you; you should be ashamed of yourself for failing Zimbabweans.
It is the duty of police officer to salute his seniors. National Heads of State are senior to all ranks of police. l remember back in 1962, newspaper pictures in the Herald showing white South African police saluting Dr Nandi Azikiwe, the then Governor General of Nigeria. This was at Jan Smuts airport in Johannesburg. Their salutes was a way of showing respect to their betters or seniors. I am sure those white police officers were not looking for favours. Please,though you may have genuine reasons to be angry and frustrated, try not be too personal, otherwise you youngsters are going to spend the next couple generations settling scores. Tinoda runyararo noku regererana. God bless you, mupwere. The hot future of Zimbabwe is in your hands. Be careful you might get burnt!!!!
Akapfunda or whoever you are it is not the duty of Police Commissioners to praise foreign heads of state and they should not be partisan in any circumstances. Musa nyebere vanhu mhani, why do think I am a young person? Do you think Zimbabwe is composed of stupid people who do not know what they want? Corruption is rampant in Zimbabwe because of corrupt state machinery and extremely poor level of administrative acumen standards. The level of poverty that Zimbabweans find themselves it’s because blind praise and non-stop sloganeering of stupid ideas.
l never said that there is no corruption in Zimbabwe. Neither did l say Zimbabweans do mostly tend towards corrupt activities and short changing, l merely pointed out that any police officer is expected to salute heads of governments. Period. Actually l believe that the diasporra has sharpened the minds of our young people. Their psyche is now even more focused. You frighten me because you so easily run off at a tangent in anger. Anger makes no man.
l never said that there is no corruption in Zimbabwe. Neither did l say Zimbabweans do mostly tend towards corrupt activities and short changing, l merely pointed out that any police officer is expected to salute heads of governments. Period. Actually l believe that the diasporra has sharpened the minds of our young people. Their psyche is now even more focused. You frighten me because you so easily run off at a tangent in anger. Anger makes no man.
CHIHURI GET READY TO SALUTE MORGAN TSVANGIRAYI