October 6, 2003
In July 2003, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Chiefs dismissed 14 male graduate trainees before completion of their one-year course because of their alleged affiliation to MDC. The recruits, who hold various academic degrees, were dismissed after completing only six months of training because the police chiefs were paranoid about having graduates around them.
This year's recruitment number 24/2003 had 15 male and 2 female members. Now there are only one male and two females left.
Our problems started during the times of the MDC final push. We used to hang out as a group and we were accused of talking politics. Superintendent Mutema accused us of being MDC spies who had been sent to training because most university students are against the government policies. It was because of that reason that we were subjected to brutal and inhuman treatment until the time we were dismissed," complained an angry recruit.
The police Chiefs had drafted a syllabus, which included topics like, Patriotism, Zimbabwean History and Land Reform programme. The graduates could not easily accept the programme, which intends to brain wash all the recruits into believing that everything done by the government is good.
We were grouped one Sunday afternoon as we were relaxing in the canteen. Most members from my squad could not heed to the roll call in time and we were all punished for poor discipline. Our beds were watered and rubbish bins emptied into them. We decided to approach the District Chief Inspector, who resides within reach for assistance and six squads were deployed to arrest us. We were taken to the detaining cells until the following day when the 14 of us were taken to police court and we were sentenced to different terms without trial. We were sentenced to 10 days, 14 days, 21 days, 24 days and 28 days depending on trial officers' judgment. The allegations were that we had acted in a mutinous manner in the police camp.
Whilst at Chikurubi, we were guarded by heavily armed policemen one of whom shouted to the effect that one of us was supposed to die. This was frightening. We, however managed to complete the jail terms and we were dismissed from the service without benefits. Right now we can't get employed in any government department since the police will never clear our names," complained another angry recruit.
The graduate recruits allege that they have been meant to suffer as a result of politicization of the police force. Police officers involved in the whole issue have been named and identified as Superintendents Dzvairo, Mutamba, Shumba, Mutema and Chief Superintendent Maphosa, all based at Morris Depot in Harare.