Back to Index

The state of policing in Zimbabwe: An address made by the Commissioner General of Police Cde. A Chihuri at a pass out parade at Morris Depot
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri
February 23, 2012

Once again, I am pleased to address you at this important occasion, which reflects and mirrors the unbridled determination by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, not only to add numbers, but also quality to its human resource base. Indeed this pass out buttresses the organisation as a Police force for the people, by the people, since through training and recruitment, we endeavour to bring police officers close to our clientele, as well as improving the quality of service rendered.

It is, thus, pleasing to mention that on parade are 290 police officers comprising of 206 males and 84 females. May I particularly commend the female police officers who, like their male counterparts, have successfully completed a six months competency-based recruit training programme. Consonant to this, I am happy that the ZRP continues to promote gender equality through equal job opportunities for both men and women in tandem with the Millennium Development Goal number 3.

Essentially this training curriculum is tailored to produce professional, dedicated and disciplined police officers capable of proficiently discharging their constitutional mandate. In light of this, I am gratified to note that, the trainees covered the following courses, among others:

• Criminal Laws (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23
• Police Powers, Procedure and the Law of Evidence
• Statute Law
• Human Rights
• Foot and Arms Drill
• Police Duties and Investigations
• Public Order Management
• Weapon Handling
• First Aid
• Basic Accounting
• History of Zimbabwe
• Community Policing
• Information Technology

More importantly, these courses are logically selected to equip police officers with the requisite knowledge and competencies that enable them to tackle the challenges that are synonymous with the ever-mutating policing environment. Definitely, human resource training and development is the cornerstone of success for any organisation.

As you may be aware, the nation is set to conduct a referendum that will pave the way for harmonised elections and, as our Constitutional mandate, ZRP shall ensure that a tranquil and orderly environment prevails before, during and after these processes. This is particularly so, taking into consideration the fact that, Zimbabweans are entitled, not only to choose those who govern them, but also to exercise this right in a conducive environment.

To this end, it is worrisome to note that some political activists, masquerading as vendors, particularly in Harare, have absurdly taken upon themselves to attack uniformed police officers on duty. Befittingly, all progressive and development-oriented Zimbabweans should condemn these isolated and sporadic violent attacks with the contempt they deserve.

Indeed, these incorrigible acts usually perpetrated around major regional, continental and international events, are meant to create an impression that there is anarchy in Zimbabwe and so the country is incapable of holding peaceful and democratic national plebiscites.

May I, therefore, strongly warn all perpetrators of violence as well as political leaders obsessed with inciting and condoning these destructive and retrogressive acts of violence, that the Police shall heavily descend on them, despite their status and station in life. Naturally, as the people's Police Force, we cannot stand by, while watching helplessly, rowdy politicians and their gullible myopic followers, erode our national values norms and social fibre.

In this vein, I am pleased to mention that, police officers around the country are geared up and committed to maintain orderliness and they have already undertaken Public Order Management refresher courses. Let me therefore, enjoin the graduands that, as you join your peers at your various stations, go out there and immensely contribute towards the preservation of peace, law and order, in line with the ZRP 2012 policing theme, which says "ZRP for Total Peace, Stability and Progress".

Ladies and gentlemen I am aware of the challenges that continuously bedevil our policing endeavours. Indeed our determination to provide quality service to the public has for quite a long time been compromised by shortages of office and residential accommodation, transport and fuel, as well as low remuneration levels that have been precipitated by illegal embargoes. More so, this situation is exerting pressure on police officers since they are expected to provide quality services using meagre resources.

Allow me at this juncture to comment on the recent and on-going frenzy of attacks on the Police, which have been fanned in the media, in particular the private media.

The unwarranted attacks have been ignited by the intensity of Police presence on our roads and this has been misconstrued as a deliberate harassment to the motoring public.

The torrent of these accusations mask a deliberate play and ploy of a hand that intends to use the Police Force as fodder for political ambition and office. It is our view that, if these machinations are allowed to continue, the ordinary people may be entrapped into a web of deception.

It is therefore important that public intelligence must not be abused and insulted by lawbreakers and outright criminals in furtherance of their misguide ambitions and egos.

As Police we hold the dignity of the Zimbabwean people and the supremacy of our constitutional mandate as paramount. Law enforcement is at the heart of a peaceful and restful nation. Zimbabwe is one such nation.

In this regard, there is absolutely nothing partisan about a Zimbabwean Police Officer loving his country and being prepared to sacrifice and die for it. There should not be any apology for this disposition.

Let me state categorically that the reckless and misguided call to remove the traffic police from the roads is a non-starter.

By nature of their job, Police operate from out there and not in offices. The Police must be vigilant and must continue to be out there to ensure total peace, security and safety of all, all the time.

As Commissioner General of Police I will be grossly irresponsible to take the officers from the roads and accommodate them in offices just to laze around. Their work is out there and they will remain out there.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police will never tolerate any act of corruption, not only on the roads, but also in all areas of operation and within its rank and file.

We have always appealed to the public to come forward and report cases of corruption and where corruption has been detected appropriate action has been taken and in many cases, the concerned officers have been expelled from the organisation and records speak for themselves.

The Traffic Branch which has been the butt of accusations has not been passive in this regard. As we speak now, the Traffic Branch has formed anti-corruption committees in all Provinces to aggressively deal with corruption within the branch.

We have noted that those who are operating Kombis illegally and those driving without drivers' licences are on the forefront of corrupting Police Officers for their benefit.

We want to assure the nation that we will continue to deal with the corrupters and the corrupted in the same vein.

Our appeal is that anyone who has a genuine case against Police Officers is invited to approach any Police Commander or any Police Station with his/her complaint.

But this is not the whole story and I wish to take this opportunity to tell the whole nation that the organisation has scored the following successes as a result of the intensification of Police patrols and presence on the road.

As a matter of record the following pleasing developments have been recorded:

• Carjacking and armed robbery of vehicles has virtually gone.
• The looting of goods, transiting our country from neighbouring countries, for example, copper from Zambia, is now a thing of the past.
• Fatalities in the roads have been reduced to the barest minimum.
• Chaos on the roads and the creation of unnecessary traffic jams has been minimized.
• Illegal operators have been flushed out.
• Though there are more cars on the roads and roads are narrower through lack of dualisation, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has managed to bring sanity to traffic movement.

We are pleased that the courts have been in support of the Police effort and they are currently reviewing the token fines for traffic violators.

Let me also advise the nation that those who are complaining and who are known to use the words partisan and Police State interchangeably are doing so as a strategy for their own benefit.

These poisonous accusations are meant to sow discord and divert focus of the Police. Unfortunately this will not happen as the Zimbabwe Republic Police has an accurate understanding of its mandate and the expectations upon it as custodians of peace and order in terms of the constitution.

The detractors clamour for a weak and confused Police leadership, which is prone to manipulation. The intention of these detractors is to use violence as a weapon of choice to their advantage as they fear the general elections, which are just around the corner.

The use of violence as a weapon of choice can be explained this way; if they win using violence they will quickly ignore the violent element as they admit that the elections were free and fair. Should they lose elections, they will use violence to legitimise the ballot and clamour for negotiation or a negotiated government.

It is this kind of insanity, which we strongly feel, has no place in the Zimbabwean body politic.

It must be remembered that there are some people right now who have criminal cases and are in our courts. These people planned to start Libyan/Egyptian style revolution by staging illegal demonstrations intended to overthrow the Government. To such people a weak, frail and feeble Police is obviously an advantage.

Right now we are aware that there is a small political party outside government, which wants to start mass protests in early March 2012. They have planned to start from Africa Unity Square employing dirty and desperate tactics such as hunger strikes and mass protests.

The warped and polluted agenda is to try and overthrow the Government. They are already de-campaigning the elections as noted by the incitement of people not to participate in the coming general elections.

This is noted in their flyers entitled 'one man vote to be assured' which were being distributed along the Sanyati/Kadoma Road.

So I urge genuine leaders not be misled by false accusations of a partisan Police or a Police State, no matter how well packaged. These are underpinned by a strategy to circumvent the majority vote and effect illegal regime change.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police and indeed all right thinking Zimbabweans, would not want to be part of this rebellion, which s witchcraft. This will bring a curse upon the land. The Bible says, in 1 Samuel Chapter 15 verse 23, and I quote;

"Rebellion is a sin of witchcraft,' unquote.

Funding of Police operations from Treasury has dried up. This is also made worse by the fiscus action, where they seem to be dismissive and disinterested in funding Police operations.

Disturbingly also, the cruel sanctions, which are causing untold suffering of the citizens, were imposed at the instigation of some people who consider themselves sons and daughters of the soil. It is beyond comprehensions and the realms of imagination, as to why, in this democratic era, a sane mind would wish anguish to befall his compatriots for the sole reason of effecting regime change through protest voting. Surely it defies all logic.

However, despite all the challenges brought about by these unjust embargoes, I would like to call upon graduands on parade to refrain from engaging in acts of corruption. In this regard, you must be inspired to soldier on by the words of encouragement from the Holy Bible in the book of James 1 verse 12 where it is said and I quote, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him," unquote.

Furthermore, allow me to remind the graduands that the HIV and AIDS pandemic continues to decimate our economically active population. In light of this, as you go out there to serve the nation, you must always conduct yourselves within the dictates of moral uprightness. Fundamentally, it is imperative to remain mindful of the fact that society beholds police officers as repositories of integrity, honesty and discipline. Consequent to the foregoing, you must take counsel from the words of wisdom by Abraham Heschel who once said I quote "Self-respect is the root of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to refrain from negativity," unquote. At this juncture, I would like to commend all of you for sparing your precious time to grace this special occasion. Finally, may I also applaud the trainees for their immaculate turn out, physical fitness and swift drill movements that were complemented by the melodious renditions from the Police Band.

I thank you.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP