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MDC-T’s failure to have elections postponed to accommodate perceived reforms, analysts said, had forced Mr Wharton to break cover ahead of the elections.

In a letter dated July 1 addressed to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, Mr Wharton asked the police chief to “clarify’’ the participation “of serving members of the force in Zanu-PF primary elections.”

Mr Wharton said the “apparent partisan political activity by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police” was in violation of the Police Act, the Constitution and Sadc guidelines on elections.

“I am aware of several active duty ZRP members who participated as candidates in Zanu-PF’s primary elections.
“Further, I understand that three of those have been elected in the primary elections to stand for parliamentary seats in the coming harmonised elections.

“If this is correct, it appears to be in contravention of Zimbabwe’s Police Act, Constitution and the Sadc guidelines on elections.”
Mr Wharton went further to demand an explanation from Comm-Gen regarding that issue.

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He said the harmonised elections were integral to national development.
Responding to the letter, Police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said ZRP does not take orders from foreigners.

In any case, she said Comm-General Chihuri did not receive a copy of Mr Wharton’s letter.
“Firstly, the Commissioner-General never received that letter and we do not know whether that was deliberate,” she said.

“Secondly, the Police Commissioner-General does not report to him (Mr Wharton) but to the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

“When the said police officers participated in those primary elections they were already ex-police officers and we have already issued a statement to that effect. As such, we have not contravened any law.”

A University of Zimbabwe lecturer who refused to be named queried why the US Ambassador was being more active in Zimbabwe’s affairs and disregarding diplomatic channels in his engagements.

“It is clear that they are up to mischief. There are protocol procedures that should be followed when an Ambassador has issues with the Government where he or she is accredited to,” the academic said.

“It is not a secret he (Mr Wharton) is behaving like an MDC spokesperson.
“His sentiments dovetail with the calls by MDC-T for security sector reforms.

“He is no longer neutral in his assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe as he is fighting from an MDC-T corner.”
Another analyst said Washington was abusing its so-called big brother status to run Zimbabwe’s institutions.

The analyst said most senior US Government officials especially ambassadors had a military history.
“It is so absurd for the US Government to think that it is wrong for any former military or police member to join the Government yet it is the norm in their administration.

“It is not a secret that most of the US senators and ambassadors have a military history,” said the analyst.
Mr Wharton’s letter to Com Gen Chihuri comes on the heels of another letter the envoy wrote to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive officer Mr Happison Muchechetere expressing concern over the way the national broadcaster was conducting its business.

In both letters Mr Wharton tried to dignify his indiscreet behaviour as a diplomat claiming that he would not share the letters with any political party, media house or civic organisation.