When a country succeeds in the transition to a more just and democratic form of government, it is obliged to deal with those who were agents of the repressive regime, possibly as torturers and agents of assassination (and other forms of abuse). In those countries which have traditionally relied on a strong secret police force, there is considerable pressure to make use of those from the previous regime with such experience.
It is alleged that many of the secret service agents of the white regime in Rhodesia continued in their employment after independence under the Zimbabwe government.