THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has started equipping
police to deal with rioters in fulfilment of recommendations made by a
Commission of Inquiry led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe, a
senior officer said yesterday.
The seven-member Commission of Inquiry was appointed by
President Mnangagwa last year to look into post-election violence that broke
out in Harare resulting in the death of six people.
The commission submitted its report containing
recommendations to the President last December.
Officially opening the 6th Rebranding and Refresher
Training Programme for junior officers at Ntabazinduna Training Depot in
Matabeleland North yesterday, Deputy Police Commissioner-General (Human Resources)
Mind Ngirandi revealed that police are now being equipped.
The week-long training is being attended by 68 junior
officers who hold ranks of Inspector, Chief Inspector and CID officers from
Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.
Dep Comm Gen Ngirandi said the rebranding and refresher
training is part of the organisation’s plan to transform itself into a people
driven service.
“In the same vein we have already begun implementing
recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 2018
post-election violence, which was chaired by His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe,
which include equipping the police with necessary skills and capacity for
dealing with rioters and further training of the police in order to be
professional and non-partisan in the interests of national cohesion and the
protection of all citizens,” said Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi.
“Resultantly, training and supervision of police officers
shall be ongoing in order to ensure that strategies to rebrand and transform
the organisation dovetails with Government’s national trajectory and above all
people’s expectations and needs.”
The Motlanthe Commission also recommended that police
should aim to prevent corporal failings in the future.
Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi said police officers should strive to
gain the public’s trust. He said officers should be cognisant that in whatever
they do they are under public scrutiny while executing their duties.
“Remember that this is a critical moment for all of you
because the eyes and ears of the nation are upon your next step as you seek to
discharge your duties. You must therefore embed yourselves in the people,
engage them, understand their daily challenges and social ills. The old
villager in Zezani must have peace of mind knowing that his cattle in the kraal
are safe from rustlers,” Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi said.
“In the same breadth the middle-aged vendor in Chinotimba
must also have confidence that her teenage girl can safely walk from school
without fear that she might be raped or kidnapped. Find out how people want to
be policed.”
Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi said the police have a duty to defend
the aspirations of peace and prosperity of citizens.
He said the ZRP rebranding exercise is aimed at ensuring that
the organisation embraces ‘policing by the people and for the people.’
“In our context, this training programme comes at a time
His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa has underscored the urgency and
imperativeness of all Government entities, the ZRP included, to engender a new
work ethic and servant leadership.
This clarion call became inscribed in our planning
processes, in view of the chasm and disconnect that had characterised our
services with the needs of the majority of Zimbabweans from whom we derive our
legitimacy,” said Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi.
“It became clear to all of us that action was required as a
matter of urgency in order to regain public confidence in the ZRP. We thus
embarked on a reform and restructuring exercise in order to re-align our
systems and processes with the demands and expectations of the people.”
He said police officers should be guided by professionalism
as they execute their duties. Chronicle
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