By Terrence Mawawa -Beitbridge| The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has secretly constructed luxurious lodges in Beitbridge-to host senior police officers and government officials-using government money, it has emerged.
ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal the ZRP has built a cluster (of 5 star) lodges situated along the banks of Limpopo river to accommodate senior police officers and government officials for luxury purposes. The lodges similar to the famous Sabi will host at least 20 guests and have been constructed at a time junior police officers are fuming over the failure to get their bonuses. The ZRP is also collecting millions of dollars across the country through roadblocks in a fundraising strategy.
ZimEye.com is reliably informed that the luxurious lodges have been built at a time the police camp in Beitbridge has dilapidated structures and ironically many junior police officers are living in worn out wooden structures .
The Senior Assistant Commissioner responsible for training and resources, Grace Ndebele presided over the official opening of the expensive properties. Although the total cost of the luxurious lodges could not be established, it is understood the ZRP blew millions of roadblock cash on the luxurious facility.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Ndebele claimed the construction of the lodges was in line with the ZIMASSET programme.
“As ZRP we will remain rigorous on national development thereby contributing to the ZIMASSET programme,” she said.
The police boss did not mention how the under fire ZRP managed to raise the funds to construct the lodges and she did not mention the real purpose of coming up with such an expensive project.
“The sad part of the whole issue is that whoever came up with the idea did not bear in mind the fact that the lodges will only benefit senior police officers and government officials while some of us are wallowing in poverty. We did not get our bonuses and we are living in squalid conditions yet someone chooses to build lodges for luxury purposes. We spend hours standing in the scorching sun to collect money at roadblocks and we are not being rewarded; I think that is unfair,” said a police officer based in the border town.