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Zimbabwe cop: Bosses 'told us to vote for Mugabe'

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  • Police officer says Zimbabwe bosses told cops how to vote
  • Spokesman for police force denies officer's accusations
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INSIDE ZIMBABWE (CNN) -- Afraid to lose their jobs in a country with nearly 80 percent unemployment, Zimbabwe police officers voted for President Robert Mugabe under the watchful eyes of their bosses, one of those officers told a reporter.

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President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe speaks at a campaign rally in March.

"Mugabe is our employer, so if you don't want to vote for Mugabe, then fill in the resignation letter so that you can leave the police force," said the police officer, who wanted to be identified only as "William."

When William and his fellow police officers cast their ballots March 29, he said, his bosses not only looked on but "actually told us to vote for Mugabe."

It is very rare and extremely dangerous for a member of Zimbabwe's police force to speak to the media. William, a police officer in his 30s, spoke to a reporter -- who also remains unnamed for security reasons -- in the back of a car in a remote area of the city where he works.

William's account was denied by Zimbabwean police spokesman Wayne Bvudzinjena, who told CNN that voting is a very confidential and involved process. He said it would not be possible for anyone to pressure another into voting for a particular candidate.

But William's story gives an indication of the financial pressures on many Zimbabweans to keep the current government in power, despite the fact that Mugabe and his regime are widely blamed for the country's economic freefall.

William, a father of two, said even the police are not spared from the country's hardships.

"I joined the force sometime in the early '90s, and then we had so many police vehicles," William said. "Now we have nothing."

He said police sometimes have to walk more than 15 miles (25 km) to investigate a crime scene. Then, they must head to a store to buy their own paper to fill out standard reports -- if they can find any paper on the barren shelves of Zimbabwe's shops.

"I'm telling you, police officers are tired. They are tired of this government," he said.

Zimbabwean police have a bad reputation in the southern African country as brutes who use a heavy-handed approach to enforce the policies of the Mugabe regime.

They have been seen moving to the head of food lines, and beating female protesters demonstrating against the economic situation in their country. But some members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise have said that they've seen police returning after the protest to help the women that they have just bloodied, offering towels and comfort.

"That's true," William said. "We at times go behind our bosses."

He said they are forced to violently enforce their bosses' orders or risk losing their jobs.

"We know that it is unlawful," he said. "They have the right to demonstrate, to do whatever, so long as they are not violating the laws of the country."

William said he and many of his colleagues had high hopes for this year's election, which presents the most formidable challenge to Mugabe's 28-year grip on power.

But instead of voting freely at a polling station, William said he sat under a tree along with his colleagues and cast a ballot that had been given to him by his commander. The ballot, he said, represented a district he did not even live in.

"The officer (of the) commanding district [was] acting like a teacher, telling you where to cast your vote," he said. "Can that be called a vote?" E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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