Bloated govt strains police resources 08/01/2012 00:00:00

POLICE say they are battling to protect the country’s VIPs since the introduction of the unity government.
The larger cabinet means police have to work twice as hard to protect them.

A senior police officer said over the weekend that the unity government had nearly crippled the force.

Senior assistant commissioner Fortune Zengeni said the police force had been under strain since the signing of the unity deal in 2008.
“The formation of the inclusive Government has nearly doubled the number of officials needing special protection by the force,” Zengeni said.
“We are, therefore, faced with a crippling personnel shortage that is threatening our ability to carry out our duties diligently.”
With both the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Zanu-PF party now in government, Zengeni said it had doubled the number of Zimbabwean VIPs.
The Sunday Mail say officers have had to be diverted to guard VIP homes and offices which have led to a shortage of personnel to carry out other duties.

The MDC was worried the police would be biased in favour of Robert Mugabe’s party as the nation was heading for elections.