POLICE chief Augustine Chihuri on Tuesday warned MDC-T supporters said behind the brutal slaying of a police officer on Sunday that they would “die by the sword”.
Inspector Petros Mutedza, 42, was honoured in a police parade on Tuesday following his murder by a mob in Harare’s Glen View suburb on Sunday.
Police have arrested more than two dozen MDC-T activists, including a councillor, but none had been charged yet, spokesman Superintendent Andrew Phiri said.
In a speech read on his behalf at Inspector Mutedza’s funeral service, Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri said the murder had undermined the MDC-T’s public boasts of being a peaceful party.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police shall not, and I repeat, shall not sit on its laurels while innocent citizens of this country, let alone police officers are being decimated by uncouth opposition political elements in a naïve and imbecilic attempt to make our country ungovernable,” Chihuri said.
“Those who wish to live by the sword must be prepared to die by the sword.”
The MDC-T has confirmed the arrest of its supporters but insists that they are innocent of the charges.
“The arrest of MDC members is a clear attempt by the police and Zanu PF to try and portray the MDC as a violent party, which it clearly is not," the party said in a statement. "The MDC is calling for professional, non-partisan and impartial investigations in this matter. Only through this can the real offenders be brought to justice."
Police say Inspector Mutedza was part of a team deployed to Glen View on Sunday to disrupt an “illegal” meeting that was being held at a nightclub by MDC-T supporters. The officers were attacked with chairs and bricks.
Mutedza died before he could reach hospital while a second officer was hospitalised with multiple injuries.