Government turning a blind eye to police intimidation and corruption
Source Date: 10-07-2007

Sokwanele received information today (10th July, 2007) from an activist that while a well-known shop in Harare was refusing to sell bread to the general public it was supplying Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Air Force Zimbabwe (AFZ), out the back door.

Further enquiries revealed that the manager and owner of the shop concerned were among those arrested last week in the ZANU PF nation-wide purge of the business community.

Our sources on the ground in Zimbabwe confirm that, as a result of the recent orchestrated campaign of violence and intimidation, a number of shop owners and managers have reluctantly agreed to prioritise the sale of scarce goods to security forces. Those who have been "roughed up" by the police and Mugabe's youth militia were among the first to yield to the pressure.

Many commentators believe that the police are being allowed to get away with this sort of harassment and ill-treatment of the civilian population because the regime is no longer able to provide them with a livable salary. It is understood that the regime is deliberately turning a blind eye to looting, regarding it as a form of 'payment in kind' or reward to those in the security services.

Source: Sokwanele (unconfirmed information)
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SADC standards breached

• 4.1.1: Constitutional and legal guarantees of freedom and rights of citizens
• 4.1.2: Conducive environment for free, fair and peaceful elections
• 7.4: [The member state holding elections shall] Safeguard the human and civil liberties of all citizens …