Mugabe Needs Another 20000 Storm Troopers

Just a few weeks ago, I read an article that indicated that the Zimbabwean police chief, Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, had fired about one thousand officers for investigating crimes which involved ZANU PF people as suspects.

Given that the Police Act states, without exception, that all serving officers are to be apolitical, without favour to any political party, regardless of whether that party is in power or not, the firing of these officers just adds to the list of the offences committed either by or in the name of the Commissioner-General.

But, there again, we know that the security chiefs in Zimbabwe are all in admiration of one President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

The security chiefs have long been advocates for Mugabe, and ally themselves - quite openly - with his party, ZANU PF.

It therefore, came as quite a shock this morning, to read that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is to boost their numbers by twenty thousand, bringing them up to full strength of fifty thousand members.

Apart from my initial reaction as to why someone would want to join a police force which has so much wrong with it, I also ask why should recruits be under pressure from Day One to supply their own gear, be subject to beatings by instructors and then, once they have finished their training, be part of an establishment that is bent only on preferring justice on behalf of ZANU PF?

And all for a mere US$160 a month - if indeed they are still paid in foreign currency…

I have no idea of the numbers in the police force when I joined in early 1981, but would assume that numbers had dwindled with the departure of many officers following independence in April 1980, but at least we were issued with brand new uniforms and footwear - for almost every occasion - and whilst discipline in the force was very high, we were still allowed to be individuals.

Training then was five months - and, if the truth be told, was one of the most trying periods of my life.

recruit 111704r ellis rwj july 1981 Y3Pr5 16744

In my book, "Without Honour" I have the following to say about the training then: "The old standards of the BSAP remained, and many of my fellow recruits were ex-combatants from the Rhodesian bush war - having fought against the Rhodesian armed forces. Let me assure you, some of them were very fit, whilst others were never going to amount to much.

They weren’t altogether sure of the hardship that accompanies the dedicated teaching of a budding Policeman, but seemed to take it all in their stride - if you’ll excuse the pun.

In my second month of training, the British South Africa Police officially changed its name to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

During the Rhodesian days, the BSAP had the tag line of, “A force to be reckoned with” - it was to be a very interesting ride to see whether the new, emerging force would be an acceptable equivalent."

Further: "During my training - a 20 week period of drill (“square bashing”), physical training, law and police, first aid training, weapons training, inspections and discipline, without much choice I grew from a schoolboy into a young man, hard with muscle and keen with ambition.

I feel it is very important to stress that both the Rhodesian BSAP and the Zimbabwean ZRP were very big on discipline and training - I cannot speak for current conditions or thinking.

We were taught to come to earth-shattering halts, “long way up - short way down” salutes, immaculate drill timing, arms drill, “pookey” drill - an exercise in throwing weapons around your body - immaculate dress presentation and a respect for the senior ranks probably only ever seen elsewhere in armies throughout the world.

We were policemen in training and proud of it. I loved the sound of hobnails on tarmac as the entire squad marched in time, correctly obeying barked commands, the feeling that we were part of something bigger than all of us. It was a system that demanded and received the best of us. Failure was not an option.

We could be seen in the early morning as a squad doubling in time through the Avenues of Harare, or leopard crawling through the dew on the Police Grounds - jumping up and running as fast as we could up the public grandstand (a monster) and back down again - one slip would have meant severe injury...

We could be found on the Cleveland rifle range, under strict supervision, going through our weapons training, falling back into a solid squad unit as soon as tuition was over.

Each squad became a team and each team started to prove itself as a tool required by the police force as a whole. And each team member was honed to perfection.

The discipline imparted upon us in training was essential, as it was to remain with us for at least the length of our service, while for some, like myself, it is a regimen that I live with daily - not necessarily “square bashing” as a civilian, but establishing a routine that would make any serving officer proud.

As training progressed, we were soon able to work out each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and instead of shunning the weak, we were encouraged to assist and teach each other, to bring us together as one unit."

How different is the ZRP today - and how many recruits are actually going to volunteer their services - only to be beaten by instructors and forced to work against the population?

I think that any new recruit will be beaten into shape instead of moulded.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man