Gutu Police Force Villagers To Build Houses For Them

via RadioVop Zimbabwe – Gutu Police Force Villagers To Build Houses For Them January 03, 2013 By Roy Chikara

Cash-strapped villagers from Chin’ombe communal lands in Gutu have expressed concern over efforts by Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP) officers at Bhasera Police station to force them to contribute money to build them residential houses.

Villagers told Radio VOP in a recent visit to their area that they were irked by the police officers who instructed village heads to force them to contribute $10 per village towards the construction of houses at Bhasera business center.

Cin’ombe Communal lands have over 300 villages and villagers could be forced to contribute at least $1 each but questioned why they should contribute towards providing accommodation for police officers who are paid by government and receive allowances for that. “We are not happy with this, our village heads summoned us and told us that we must contribute money for accommodation of police officers. What boggles our mind is that is it the duty of villagers to provide accommodation for police officers who are on government pay roll?,” questioned Taurai Muchapedza from Chin’ombe. Other villagers said the move was day light robbery by the law enforcement agents. “These guys want to dupe us we have never heard of this since this police station was established in the 1980s. This is robbery in broad day light,” said a villager who declined to be named for fear of victimization.

Masvingo Police spokesperson, Inspector Peter Zhanero dismissed the allegations as false. “That’s a lie, there is nothing like that how can Police officers do that. Police officers will never do that maybe the villagers have a score to settle with their officers there and they want to tarnish their image. The community can only assist police officers in rural areas to build charge offices and other public facilities but not their houses,” said Zhanero. But villagers insisted that their traditional leaders had summoned them to contribute the money for houses at the growth point where other people rent houses.

“They want us to build them house but Bhasera is growing and has residential areas where people can rent house just like those in cities and towns. They must rent or built houses for themselves with the money they get from their salaries,’’ said Bhula Makurwe.