1100+ junior police officers reportedly successfully challenged their transfers at their own cost as they cited that the transfers could not be sustained from their meagre salaries, Newsday reports.
The cops represented by Detective Constable Bryn Moyo (CID Theft, Harare), Sergeant Terrence Zireva (Budiriro) and Assistant Inspector Emmanuel Chipanda (Ruwa Police Station) successfully filled an application at the High Court challenging the transfers at their own cost.
Justice Benjamin Chikowero heard the case of the cops who argued that the transfer was beyond their means especially considering their minor school-going children.
In some of the court papers seen by the publication, police officers said:
My children are enrolled at schools in Harare, which I believe to be in their interest. I am alive to the fact that schools are still closed, but rumours are that they might reopen soon. If the rumours are true, it would mean that I would have to return my children to Harare from Gweru and look for someone to take care of them.
My transfer was effected at a time when I had already paid my June rentals, I had already planned for the month. The financial implications of my transfer from ZRP Ruwa include buying new school uniforms, looking for alternative accommodation, schools and that represents gross inconvenience and irreparable harm since no allowances have been paid to me.
In delivering his ruling Justice Chikowore ruled that:
Pending determination of this matter, applicant is hereby granted the following relief: applicant’s transfers dated June 2020 from their respective stations be and is hereby stayed pending the determination of the appeal noted on June 8, 2020.
More: Newsday