By Own Correspondent|In a joint press statement released Saturday evening, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Defence Forces said that military and police uniforms were stolen by civilians appealing to those who had commited this act to return them.

In their statement, the security wings said these uniforms were being used to commit criminal activities.

Read part of the statement:

“Some of these uniforms worn by criminals were seized by rogue elements during the recent riots in Epworth and Chegutu.

A case in point is a recent arrest of five armed robbers in Epworth, Harare on 14 January 2019, who were using police and military regalia to commit armed robberies, after hiring vehicles from car rental companies.

We are therefore giving an ultimatum to individuals who have retired, deserted, absented themselves without official leave (AWOL) from service to immediately handover uniforms either to the police or the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

All those who do not comply with this directive will be flushed out by already deployed members of the security services.

We are also appealing to members of the public who have information on such people who are not serving members and are abusing military/police regalia to report to the police.”

The police & army did not say how these uniforms where stolen or who they suspect of the theft. They also did not entertain any questions from journalists at the press conference.

The army and police have been accused this week of ochestrating a campaign of betings and toture especially in high density surbubs following the violent 14 January 2019 protests.