By Vumani Mthiyane
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Commissioner Leslie Ncube has called on Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to fire corrupt officers.
This comes after Comm Ncube said the commission had received numerous reports of corruption by police at Colleen Bawn and West Nicholson police stations.
Ncube said this while addressing a Churches Converging on Conflict and Peace (CCCOP) inception meeting in Gwanda which was attended by the Gwanda local peace committee.
The Commissioner said they were also concerned with cases of violence in mining communities in Matabeleland South.
A machete wielding gang attacked Vova mine in Gwanda on Friday leaving four miners hospitalised.
“As a commission we are concerned by issues of machete gangs which have resurfaced in Matabeleland South Province in areas such as Vova. Members of the security sector who are charged constitutionally with enforcing laws shouldn’t be found sleeping on duty.
People can’t be moving around with machetes and attacking people and then walk scot free. We have security around us and one of its thrusts is to smell and detect where these criminals will strike. These gangs come in vehicles in a manner that would have been well organised and they do this under the watchful eye of the police which is disturbing,” he said.
Matabeleland South Police Provincial Spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said law enforcers are executing their duties in a professional manner.
“I cannot rightfully dismiss these allegations because some police officers are corrupt in their personal capacities not the organisation. In case these rogue elements really exist, I urge members of the public to work hand-in-glove with police.
“It might be happening but not in the eyes of police leadership. Anyone with such information is free to contact any police station and whistle blow so that we flash out rotten apples from the organisation,” he said.
