Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, who admitted in
Parliament yesterday to selective application of the law by members of the
police force, said they required at least $3,6 million for rigorous training
and rebranding for them to shed off their image as a brute and corrupt force.
The police chief had appeared before the Parliamentary
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs chaired by Levi Mayihlome,
together with Home Affairs ministry secretary Melusi Matshiya, where he nearly
went into a verbal spat with MDC Alliance legislators when he mentioned that
rebranding was required in order to avoid incidences such as what happened last
week when opposition legislators were ejected from Parliament in an undignified
manner.
He said $95 million would be needed for patrols next year,
adding that the $700 traffic fines must be upheld because there were many
traffic infractions by motorists, particularly kombi drivers.
“There was a promise that ZRP would get $65 million for
2019, and I had also submitted to the Finance ministry that I needed about $3,6
million for the whole of 2019 because I am not happy right now with the
performance and attitude of my police officers on the ground,” Matanga said.
“To change that, we need to go through rigorous training
programmes so that by the end of 2019, we positively rebrand these men and
women so that they change their behaviour.”
Asked by Manicaland Senator Douglas Mwonzora (MDC Alliance)
to explain if he wanted rebranding of the police because of their perceived
role in corruption, selective application of the law and partisanship, Matanga
said there was need to engage in discussions with the opposition.
“Yes, it is said there is selective application of the law,
but in the latest incident that happened in Parliament – I do not think MPs
would stoop that low,” Matanga said.
This angered MDC Alliance MPs, resulting in Budiriro MP
Costa Machingauta (MDC Alliance) pointing out that police had no business
entering Parliament. Chairperson of the committee Mayihlome said the matter
must not be discussed as it had nothing to do with the budget.
Matanga said: “I will also need $95 million for patrols to
cover the ZRP Support Unit along the borders, carrying out investigations and
rations, and so our requirements for 2019, including training, would increase
to about $100 million and yet we were promised $65 million.”
He said there was need to also ensure that Zimbabwe had a
computerised national command and control centre to monitor streets, banks,
supermarkets and different places using drones and cameras.
“If I am given this facility, you will all smile in terms
of the ZRP,” he said. Matanga said the police require a vehicle fleet of 7 000,
but currently has 2 500, most of which are old.
On the $700 traffic fines, Matanga said: “The fines must be
prohibitive and I recommend that they must remain at that level.”
He admitted that some police officers were corrupt, adding
that as long as they continued to be underpaid, it would be difficult to
control corruption.
Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) and MDC
Alliance legislator Dorcas Sibanda (Proportional Represantation) suggested that
the ZRP must have its own internal policing unit to weed out corrupt elements,
adding they must be in different uniforms from regular police officers. Newsday
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