MIDWEEK REPORTER
HARARE-Nineteen Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recruits have been arrested for beating up people indiscriminately in Harare Central Business District on Friday night.
By 8pm, the usually busy Harare’s downtown area resembled a sleepy town as people hurried to their respective homes.
This comes barely a few days before the crunch harmonized elections on Wednesday.
Posting on its X handle, formerly Twitter, the ZRP confirmed the arrest of the rowdy police recruits and said investigations are currently underway.
“Nineteen (19) police recruits have been arrested and will face the due process of the law.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are currently underway in connection with the unruly conduct exhibited by some Police recruits in Harare Central Business District on 18th August 2023 between 1830 and 1930 hours,” reads ZRP’s statement.
The ZRP distanced itself from violent conduct and assured the public of professionalism in the course of executing its mandate.
“The Commissioner General of Police does not condone violent behaviour by any police and assures the public of the professionalism of police officers as they interact with the people of Zimbabwe and visitors.”
Opposition political parties routinely accused uniformed forces of involvement in unleashing politically motivated violence on dissenting voices in previous plebiscites.
