The Harare City Council has justified its recruitment of
741 municipal police officers, saying the move will help with revenue
collection.
This comes after social media users had questioned the
city’s priorities, arguing its wage bill was already too high.
City spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said Harare was set to
benefit from the new officers who would aid revenue collection.
“The recruitment is justified. The city is losing a lot of
money in a lot of places where it is collecting revenue,” he said. “The duty of
these officers is to go and man those places where the city is collecting
money, like the markets.”
From the group, 200 will be deployed to the traffic
section, which, according to council, had degenerated into lawlessness.
“We have a lot of indisciplined drivers that have been
disrupting traffic in the Central Business District and it is again the duty of
these officers to go and do work there,” said Mr Chideme. “It is not an
expense, they are going to be part of income generation, they are also going to
police the city, bringing law and order in the city.”
Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba said there was need
for a court to ensure the usefulness of the municipal police.
In his speech at the municipal police graduation, Cllr
Gomba said; “This brigade is part of our roadmap to a world class city by 2025.
The officers will complement the efforts of their seniors in observing and
ensuring legal trading and orderly movement and parking vehicles in the city.
“We, however, continue to push for the granting of
arresting powers and establishment of municipal courts for the speedy
resolution of any municipal-related crimes. Herald
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