More questions than answers on so called Police lithium arrests
There is no doubt that the Police need the media and the media need the Police to executive their respective duties smoothly.
In short, the two cannot work without the other, they are two sides of the same coin.
We were very excited when the Masvingo provincial community liaison and public relations officer, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa last week invited members of the fourth estate to a tour of the lithium ore (which has become the new gold) that had been ‘intercepted’ by the law enforcement agency in the last few weeks and was stored in the industrial area of the ancient city.
We were excited because it would help to answer a lot of questions in the public about the actual position of lithium trade and smuggling which is a public secret.
Lo and behold, our hopes were quickly dashed when our colleagues decided to major in drama than in action and facts as journalism would demand.
The media practitioners who went for the tour came back with more questions than answers.
Upon being asked where are the 17 suspects arrested for lithium trading, the Police were and are still clueless?
If they are not there what are their names? If Gold Mafia suspects were named in the Al Jazeera expose’, what about the lithium drama that we are subjected to by our brothers and sisters?
You can’t claim to have arrested people wo have no names and addresses?
The funniest part of it, the Police do not have names of the drivers caught driving the trucks full of lithium.
The police do not have names of truckers transport lithium ore from Mberengwa or Bikita Minerals. Jesus must come!
Who has the audacity to trade illegally in a mineral that has been banned by the highest office in the country?
The police do not have the names of the truck owners yet they have number plates and can be obtained form the central vehicle registry though a mere phone call.
The Police are saying they don’t want to jeopardize investigations by releasing names of the 17 people, oooh, so why did you call the media?
We strongly suspect there is something being hidden here through this public relations stunt by the ZRP, unfortunately it has gone wrong.
Of late we have witnessed a number of leaky journalism in Masvingo Province where prominent politicians are involved and we strongly believe this is not by coincidence, something is brewing up and it will explode sooner than later.
It seems it is one expose after the other, if this one is exposed, he or she will turn around and say how about this one.
Please spare us this drama, do your work and come to the people with facts, people want to know who is behind the smuggling of lithium?
Where is it going?
Who is behind the smuggling because no ordinary person would engage in such a risky crime?
We are informed that the Police were escorting the smugglers, to what extent is this true or false, we demand answers?
Surely a whole Assistant Commissioner cannot arrest faceless, nameless people, which is which?
We were told that the Assistant Commissioner literally arrested the suspects, so why keeping their names a secret when they have already been arrested?
Can you also come clear on reports that the smuggling of the white gold is still on going with some known transporters being involved and being facilitated by some big names who will soon be exposed by their rivals?
We wait in anticipation.
