Off-duty cop in trouble for attending opposition rally in rural Zimbabwe

By News 24.com

• An off-duty cop attended a political rally addressed by Nelson Chamisa in violation of police laws.
• The cop was seen chanting slogans in support and clapping to Chamisa’s address.
• Another cop has gone AWOL after a showdown with a deputy minister who called him a dog.

A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) constable is in trouble for attending an opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally in Matabeleland North.

Constable Henry Masimbe, who has nine years’ service, was arraigned in a police court for contravening Police Service Chapter 10.11 sections 29 and 34 that prohibit active participation in politics.

According to the charge sheet seen by News24, it was alleged he attended a CCC rally in Nesigwe Growth Point on Wednesday and was seen chanting CCC slogans.

Masimbe was off duty but allegedly claimed he wanted to collect a murder docket at the Nesigwe police camp where he was stationed.

However, it was reported while he was dressed in civilian clothes, Masimbe went to a CCC rally.

He was then seen “following the convoy of the CCC and [party leader] Nelson Chamisa, chanting ‘that one, that one, the young man has arrived'”.

Masimbe also apparently chanted: “The young man should enter.”

Chamisa, 45, is 80-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s main rival.

He is referred to as “the young man” because of his age.

The police charge claimed, “the defaulter [Masimbe] was also observed clapping hands and acknowledging the speech being delivered by Nelson Chamisa”.

Masimbe is the second police officer to be entangled in election-related violations.

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This after Assistant Inspector Chester Matsa was labelled a dog and stupid idiot by Barbara Rwodzi, the Zanu-PF MP for Chirumhanzu South and deputy tourism minister.

Matsa was in the firing line for investigating a complaint involving one of Rwodzi’s election runners who allegedly defaced CCC posters.

He later went underground and did not report for work fearing intimidation.

Last week, the police, in a radio dispatch, said Matsa had not reported for work and should “if located [be] arrest[ed], detain[ed]”.