Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga told parliamentarians that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) remains on high alert amid fears some Zimbabweans want to use the coronavirus lockdown to cause political disturbances in the country.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care on Tuesday, the country’s top cop said:
… The whole nation is looking at the COVID-19 pandemic operation yet there are elements within the country who want to do certain things also riding on the same operation.
Whilst we are trying to prevent the spread of the virus, some people have certain agendas who want to take advantage of the same operation.
I do not want to give discretion at the roadblocks but I am looking at a person coming to town to fend for their families. Too much discretion will cause problems.
Police and the army officers manning security checkpoints across the country have been accused of turning away and harassing travellers without valid reasons, affecting their business and family commitments.
A member of Parliament, Winnie Makonya (MDC Alliance), said she was “disturbed” by what she at the police and army roadblocks.