Full Text of the Hon. Nelson Chamisa Motion on Police Rights Violations

Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.  Let me just take the motion once more.

“NOTING the disturbing images and video footage of men and women in police uniform – beating up innocent civilians and citizens;

AWARE that the Police Charter rests on the settled principle of pro lege, pro patria and pro populi.’  – I am sure that those who have served in the police would know what I mean.  It does mean for the law, for the country and for the people.

“WORRIED by the recent behaviour and conduct of certain police details in their handling and beating up of demonstrating and peace loving citizens;

CONCERNED with human rights abuses and rule by law instead of rule of law instigated by certain police officers or persons masquerading as police;

PERTURBED that the Minister responsible for the police or the Commissioner General have not made effort to discipline the perpetrators or make a statement on those who violated the national Constitution.

FURTHER CONCERNED that the bad behaviour of these few bad men in our midst have caused animosity between the citizens who do a good job.

FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGING that the President of the Republic, Mr. Mugabe, has publicly condemned – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- has publicly condemned the public who were exercising their rights but without correspondingly condemning those who have abused citizen rights and particularly those who are violating the Constitution.

NOW THEREFORE CALL UPON THIS HOUSE to do the following:

1. a) Ask the Minister of Home Affairs to investigate the conduct of the police and report to Parliament within the shortest possible time.
2. b) Ask the Minister of Home Affairs to issue a public apology in the context of that investigation for the untoward conduct of some of the police officers.
3. c) Immediately implement a training programme for our police to equip them with the human rights curriculum as is required by the Constitution and the statutes of our country.
4. d) To put in place an Act of Parliament setting up an independent complaints mechanism for members of the public to report cases of such abuses as contemplated by Section 210 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Last but not least, for Parliament to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate into the conduct.