THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has embraced the new
dispensation with an array of changes in its operations, among them reducing
roadblocks to just one per 100-kilometre radius and scrapping spot fines.
Following the end of Operation Restore Legacy by the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), the police force is now working on restoring
public confidence through a raft of changes. In a memo copied to all stations
from the Commissioner Operations dated December 19, 2017, the police are
seeking to restore public trust and confidence.
The memo outlines a number of changes in the Traffic
Section, which allegedly made the police fall out of favour with the public. It
states that all other police stations are to stop traffic enforcement
operations and concentrate on increasing police visibility in both urban and
rural areas.
“Traffic enforcement and road safety duties are to be done
by Traffic Branch, whose main focus shall be promotion and facilitation of road
safety and security through traffic awareness campaigns and other road safety
programmes,” the memo reads.
“Traffic police shall ensure a co-ordinated weekly
roadblock schedule and roadblock spacing has been revised to not more than one
roadblock within 100 kilometres,”said the memo.
Traffic fines, according to the memo, would be collected on
the road but where necessary and for serious offences, police are to take the
violator to a police station for acceptance or deposit fine in the form of Z69J
or compilation of a docket.
“No spot fines are to be imposed on the motoring public,
considerations are being made for us to revert to the ticketing system using
Forms 265. Our new culture is to serve with a smile and to prioritise premier
customer care. There shall be zero tolerance to corruption across the
organisation and where it is observed the perpetrator is to appear in the
criminal court within 48 hours and in the disciplinary court within 72 hours.
“Commanders at all levels are to enhance supervision and
conduct on the job training and monitoring of all operations. A culture of
total commitment to duty, team building and maximum supervision must be
adopted,” it said.
“Any failure by commanders in this aspect will attract
disciplinary action. All commanders must work towards image building through
professionalism and a genuine concern to satisfy public expectations. Never
shall any room be left for laziness, rudeness, arrogance and half-hearted
approach to duty. May all commanders ensure that these directions cascade down
to all members under their command,” said the memo.
“In view of the end of Operation Restore Legacy on 18
December 2017, the ZRP has assumed its full constitutional mandate to maintain
law and order alone without the military. It is our duty to create an enabling
environment conducive to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections by
all parties,” read the memo.
“The peaceful environment should boost investor confidence
and encourage foreign direct investment for our economy to grow. We should stop
all forms of corruption and where it occurs, swift justice must be done.”
Commanders were ordered to take full note of the negative
public perceptions and attitude towards the police and endeavour to implement
strategies to reverse this.
“This is achievable through a review of how we have
conducted business and fully commit ourselves to addressing issues of concern
and expectations of the public,” read the memo.
“This means more visible foot, cycle, horse and motorised
patrols in both urban and rural areas. We must also endeavour to revamp police
public relations through addressing public safety and security concerns so as
to reduce fear of crime in view of the coming 2018 elections.”
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner
Charity Charamba declined to comment on the latest developments. Herald
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