A maid’s complaint against a woman who allegedly pointed a gun at her has resulted in an unexpected outcome: An unprecedented transfer of the entire police force at Avondale station.

Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri on Friday ordered the immediate transfer of all 78 officers stationed at Avondale police station.
The order contained in a radio number EM347/10 and dated 15/10/10 is a bitter pill to swallow for the officers who have to be out of Harare by Tuesday.

Save for two policemen who are well connected to senior police officers who have been posted to stations in Harare, the majority have to kiss goodbye to the city life they had grown accustomed to.

They are heading for Tuli, Mushumbi, Mutorashanga, Binga, Jambezi, Guyu, Kezi, Mbembesi, Kazungula, Gezani, Nkayi, Dete and other remote areas.

Officers from those far-flung areas will fill their places.

The result of this well-calculated move is that Avondale police station, which presides over Strathaven, an area where Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai resides, will be mainly staffed by officers coming from remote stations.

There were suggestions that an unnamed officer in charge of an unknown Ruvangwe police station, near the Mozambique border would take charge at Avondale.

Very senior police officers concerned by the move by Chihuri yesterday revealed that Avondale police station had always been on Chihuri’s radar amid suspicion that officers there were sympathetic to Tsvangirai.

The complaints raised by an Indian woman identified as Bhata Bhavyamalini who was accused of threatening her maid with a gun (CR 24/10/10) may have provided a convenient excuse to punish the officers, The Standard was told.

The maid Ivy Dzengu alleged that Bhav-yamalini had pointed a gun at her. Avondale police responded to her report and proceeded to search Bhavyamalini’s home for the gun. They returned empty- handed.

Bhavyamalini, in turn, is said to have complained that police involved in the case were conniving with the maid and an organisation for domestic workers to extort money from her.

A top police officer who cannot be named for legal reasons is alleged to have shown his interest in the matter and pushed for an internal investigation into the case.

Thereafter police at Avondale heard rumours that they were all going to be transferred to remote places because by arresting and going to search for a gun at Bhav-yamalini’s home they had “overstepped their mandate”.

Yesterday, Bhavyamalini said she was happy that action had been taken against the police at Avondale.

“Don’t you think some element of discipline was supposed to be brought against these people?” she asked in an understatement.

Bhavyamalini confirmed reports that she had approached “senior people” to intervene in her case.

She however disputed police reports that it was the maid who first made a complaint against her.

“It’s me who first went to the police. The maid was in the habit of shouting at night and she was illegally occupying my cottage. I reported her to the police but I don’t know the mix and match she did and she was demanding US$600 from me for working for seven days.

“I started hearing that the she was making false gun allegations about me,” she said.

Asked to comment on allegations that she had a special relationship with a senior police officer, Bhavyamalini became abusive and started threatening this journalist.

“You are poking your nose on matters that are dangerous. I am very powerful and you can be in serious trouble for that. Give me your name again boy, you and your paper are in trouble.”

While Bhavyamalini may be pleased that all Avondale police details have been punished, for the officers who have scrounge around for cash to finance their relocation to Zimbabwe’s far-flung areas, it is not a laughing matter.

Forlon officers said they did not know where to start from yesterday.

“Look I have kids who are in school in Harare, when I am told that I have to leave the city and go and stay 500 km away, how can that be possible.

“My kids are supposed to be writing exams next month, and I don’t even have the bus fare to relocate.”

The Standard yesterday heard heart-rending stories of officers who were sick, some barely able to walk who were supposed to dash out of Harare at the earliest possible time.

According to police regulations, officers who fail to reach their new stations in time will be charged.
The situation was so desperate yesterday that several officers were contemplating leaving the force.

Many picked the Form 71, which is an application for discharge from the force.

“The way Chihuri has transferred everyone at the station is unprecedented. It will not only affect officers personally but will have serious implications for smooth running of operations. There is no proper handover takeover and officers who were investigating cases have to leave them just like that.

While the Bhavyamalini case may have sparked the mass transfers, senior police officers told The Standard it was merely an excuse.

“That something drastic was going to happen was in the offing. There are perceptions that the station is sympathetic to Tsvangirai,” said one of the officers.

“Attempts by the station to establish a police post at Strathaven worsened matters. There are some who viewed that as an attempt to provide security for Tsvangirai. Officers from the rural areas can be trusted to work in an area which is very sensitive.”

The officer said one of the senior police officers also raised eyebrows after he saluted Tsvangirai and Finance minister Tendai Biti.

Chihuri and Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena could not be reached for comment yesterday.

By The Standard