ZRP Stops Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards While Govt Officials Are Pictured At A Birthday Party In Harare

Zimbabwe Republic Police Officers yesterday stormed Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAA) in Bulawayo and stopped the event for violating COVID-19 regulations while round about the same time in Harare some government officials were pictured at a birthday party in clear violation of COVID-19 regulations. The events which came to light through social media have made Zimbabweans on social media mainly Twitter questioning the integrity of the police force.

Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana posted the following photos of Monica Mutsvangwa’s 60th birthday party and captioned it:

Today we are celebrating Hon Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s 60th Birthday. She certainly looks younger than a sexagenarian. Happy 60th Hon Minister.

The photos show that no social distancing was observed and the guests had no masks, furthermore, public gatherings like parties and weddings are still prohibited except for churches and burials.

When asked why they were having a party against the law by one Twimbo, Mangwana said they had all been tested prior to the party which left other Twimbos asking if people can now hold gatherings if they have COVID-19 free certificates.

Meanwhile, around the same time, ZRP Police Officers in Bulawayo were storming the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards instructing the event to shut down because they were not adhering to COVID-19 containment measures.

This made Twimbos question the integrity of ZRP and some even went on to say, some animals are more important than others. MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere using microblogging site Twitter said:

We live in a country where @PoliceZimbabwe will never attend the scene of an abduction, let alone investigate the perpetrators. But they will shut down an arts event “just because.” Mind you, Zanu elites had a big bash in violation of all Covid regs.@PoliceZimbabwe did nothing.

Source: Twitter