Jubilation as Matanga bans Chihuri raffle ticket sales

POLICE officers yesterday celebrated after Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga abolished the mandatory purchase of raffle tickets towards the traditional Commissioner-General Funfair and Horse Race.

Officers have over the years complained about the added financial burden on their salaries after they were forced to buy numerous tickets for events and other causes they said benefitted senior officials.

Even court challenges failed to make former police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri relent on the issue.

Addressing senior officers from the Midlands Province at ZRP Gweru main camp hall, Comm-Gen Matanga said while the tickets were being sold for a worthy cause, no one would be forced to buy them.

“I wish to remind you that our organisation has an important corporate social responsibility to contribute, although in a small way, towards the welfare of widows and orphans of our departed colleagues and other deserving members of the public.

“Against this background, I wish to take this opportunity to inform you that raffle tickets for our traditional Commissioner General Funfair and Horse race will continue to be offered for sale. However, the tickets will be sold at a very low price and will be sold to willing buyers only. No-one will be coerced to buy any of the tickets on offer,” he said.

Junior officers celebrated as the news spread through the province.

Last year, a disgruntled Bulawayo-based junior cop Constable Shepherd Marufu took the then Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo and retired Police Commissioner-General Chihuri to court for allegedly forcing him to “unlawfully” contribute part of his monthly salary towards funding projects that allegedly benefitted his bosses.

In papers before the Bulawayo High Court, Cst Marufu said they were also forced to buy and sell raffle tickets for $30 each three times a year.

Comm-Gen Matanga however, appealed to the police officers to find it in their hearts to contribute to a worthy cause.

“My appeal to you is, when the tickets are finally availed, let us find it in our hearts to buy a few knowing pretty well that one day, your own contribution will put a smile on the face of one of the less fortunate people out there,” he said.

Comm-Gen Matanga applauded the

These unidentified ladies were captured going about their business in Harare yesterday while wrapped in mini blankets to beat the prevailing cold weather. The Meteorological Services Department warned last week that daytime temperatures were expected to drop to below 15 degrees Celsius between Sunday and tomorrow. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)