has massively increased.17 Its Director and Deputy Director are both war veterans. It is thought to have played an important role in organising and conducting campaigns to destabilise and harass the political opposition and other organisations perceived to be anti-government. Politicisation of Police Force In a democratic country the Police Force will be a politically neutral professional force that will apply the law equally to all persons. Members of the force are expected to refrain from active involvement in politics lest they are perceived to be politically biased in the way in which they perform their duties. Thus in terms of the Police Act in Zimbabwe, it is an offence for police officers actively to participate in politics.18 In order to understand the political orientation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and how this affects their behaviour, it is necessary to trace how the police force has been increasingly politicised. In January 2001, the Commissioner of Police cast off the cloak of political neutrality and announced: “I support ZANU (PF) because it is the ruling party.” He said he would resign if another political party came to power.19 In making this statement Mr Chihuri committed an offence in terms of the Police Act.20 In terms of s 48 to the Schedule to this Act it is an offence for police officers actively to participate in politics. On 9 January 2002, the service chiefs, including the Police Commissioner, made a joint statement at a press conference to the effect that they would not recognise or salute anyone as President who did not have liberation war credentials. Implicit in the press statement was that if the people elected President Mugabe’s chief political opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, in the forthcoming election, they would not recognise him as President. This was tantamount to a treasonable utterance, but no charges were brought against them.21 17 In the year 2004 the CIO was allocated 62 billion dollars. In 2005 the CIO allocation was increased fivefold to 334 billion dollars, with a further 61 billion dollars supplementary allocation (including 50 billion dollars for the procurement of "equipment"). The 2006 budget estimates for "special services" provides the CIO with a staggering figure in excess of one trillion dollars. 18 See s 48 of the Schedule to the Act. 19 Daily News 16 January 2001. 20 21 [Chapter 11.10]. The partisanship of the Commissioner of Police was further illustrated in August 2002 when the Commissioner lashed out at the country’s courts for treating leniently MDC members accused of acts of violence. He said that the violence of the MDC was increasing by the day and had reached alarming levels. The Commissioner made no mention of the many crimes of violence, including murder committed against MDC members and that in many instances the police had failed to investigate and bring to court Who guards the guards? Violations by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, 2000 to 2006