MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has passed a negative report on Gutu Police, concluding in a document released towards the end of last year that senior officers are partisan, depriving opposition CCC members of administrative justice, political and property rights and the right not to be subjected to cruel inhuman or degrading treatment.The report, compiled from complaints raised in the run-up to last year’s harmonised elections has since been shared with the Commissioner General of Police, Zanu PF, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), CCC and other stakeholders.

ZHRC chairperson Fungayi Jessie Majome confirmed the report in a written response to The Mirror and said recommendations were made to the Commissioner General. “Recommendations were made to the Commissioner General of Police to ensure opening of dockets, investigation of cases and giving of feedback to the complainants. ZHRC will continue to engage and follow-up its recommendations to ZRP guided by its applicable Regulations Statutory Instrument 77 of 2026,” said Commissioner Majome.Mentioned in all the 10 complaints submitted to the Commission is Gutu Officer-in-Charge, Chief Inspector Cames Myambo. Complainants accuse him of being partisan, refusing to open dockets against Zanu PF activists and arresting opposition supporters who would make reports at the Police Station against Zanu PF activists.

His then immediate boss, Chief Superintendent Taurai Mambure, Officer Commanding Masvingo East District was also cited in several complaints. The report also mentions Masvingo CID Law and Order Officer-in-charge, Inspector James Nyoni who is accused of sitting on reports from complainants.The three senior Police Officers are cited by complainants as enablers of human rights violations because of their alleged lack of professionalism.The report noted that Police at Gutu did not open dockets, did not attend crime scenes and did not arrest suspects timeously. It said complainants have the right to get feedback from Police but Gutu Police and the CID Law and Order Section did not give any.The rights Commission made seven findings in the 21-page report and blames the violence that ravaged Gutu District partially on the three senior officers.

The Commission concluded that political violence in Gutu was worsened by lack of Police action and recommended for the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) to conduct conciliation and mediation of disputes among political parties.National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he had not seen the report and will only comment then.All the three senior officers refuted the allegations during interviews with ZHRC. They said they are not partisan and the allegations against them were made up. Nyoni denied the blame and said he did not investigate the cases because they were never forwarded to his office by Myambo.

ZHRC made its conclusions against various human rights frameworks including the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Criminal Law, regional and international instruments including the Universal Declaration of Rights, African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the Maputo Protocol, International Covernant on Civil and Political Rights etc.The report urged Police to investigate cases in a non-partisan manner, to attend to scenes of crime and arrest suspects for criminal human rights violations. The report called for Police to create an environment of political tolerance among political parties and that Police give complainants progress reports to investigations.All the complainants interviewed said they would rather not report cases to Police because they have lost confidence in the law and order maintenance organ of the State.

ZHRC investigated violence in Gutu after receiving 10 different complaints from victims in wards 27, 33 and 37 which are in Gutu Central. The complaints were against Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson Josephat Sarukore who allegedly commandeered violence against the opposition, and Police top brass for being partisan.After receiving the complaints at its Harare office, ZHRC send out a team of investigators who interviewed the complainants and the respondents. They also interviewed independent individuals.

Repeatedly the complainants cited Josphat Sarukore, his brother Tawanda Sarukore and another relative Samson Sarukore as notorious Zanu PF agents who thrived on violence. The three are cited in all reports that were submitted.Complainants alleged that Myambo refused to open dockets against Zanu PF perpetrators of violence and at one time he passed by CCC supporters who were being tortured and he ignored the scene and drove away. Complainants also accused Myambo of arresting CCC victims and taking them to court as accused persons.

The Commission observed that there is not one Zanu PF accused who was taken to court over the violence although many CCC supporters were arrested and taken to court.The Commission also accused Myambo of refusing to co-operate with investigators. He insisted that the investigators talk to Mambure instead.

The complainants said Mambure called for a multi-party meeting for dialogue but CCC members were not allowed to talk at the engagement. After the meeting Zanu PF suspects made counter reports at the Police station that they were assaulted and the CCC members were immediately arrested although they were the first to make reports.The perpetrators are 1. Josephat Sarukore, 2. Tawanda Sarukore, 3. Samson Sarukore, 4. Sylvester Mashamba, 5. Admire Chimuka, 6. Jose Mudziwepasi, 7. Jonathan Mugutso, 8. Christopher Musarurwa, 9. Brian MunyoroThe victims of violence are Tafunga Mangombe, Tom Makumbe and his three brothers, Manners Mangwiro, Jevas Makumbe, Langton Guvava Mabande, Russel Mudoro, Claudius Muvindisi, Desire Tichazorwa, Bernard Chimwango and Tatenda Murinye.