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Obedingwa Mguni

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has said despite violent protests, the country remains at peace with police in control of the situation.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cde Obedingwa Mguni told legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday that the police have intelligence to weed out trouble causers.

Cde Mnguni was responding to questions posed by legislators who wanted to know whether the country was safe in light of violent protests that saw a police base, police vehicle and groceries being looted from shops in Harare by suspected MDC-T supporters.

He assured the law makers that citizens have nothing to worry about as police were working to rid society of rowdy elements.

“So, I am assuring citizens that we have to defend lives, property and other things.  Our police are there to do so and not only to defend anti-demonstrators but also the demonstrators who are in danger because there are some people who are annoyed by their demonstrations.  Our duty therefore is to defend everybody in the country,” he said.

Cde Mguni said the country’s police have a strong reputation of stopping violence earning them trust with international peace keeping institutions such as United Nations.

“Yes, we are very safe in Zimbabwe.  We have got a very strong Act to ensure there is peace and stability within our country.  We also have a much disciplined police force.  Actually, when we send our police to the United Nations, they enjoy appointing them as leaders in countries like Sudan, Algeria and other countries that are full of violence.  They like our police because they are well trained to curb violence,” Cde Mguni.

He said police intelligence is also gathering information on violent protestors in the hope of rehabilitating some of the trouble causers.

“We have a very strong intelligence section that is gathering all the data base that you are concerned about.  We are now advanced because some people need rehabilitation.  We are not only arresting people but we have gone a step further and now go out to visit such people and rehabilitate them so that they fit well into the society.  We do not want people who endanger other people’s lives,” he said.

Cde Mguni said it was lawful for police to defend themselves when being attacked as part of their training compels them to do defensive exercises.

@nqotshili