He reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance to
politically motivated violence and that his Government will never allow the
present peace, unity and stability in the country to be tainted for the
political expediency of a few rogue pseudo politicians.
He was speaking yesterday while commissioning 132 vehicles
for the police, which include off road pick up vehicles, some of which will be
assigned for border patrols.
He also unveiled a new name for the Morris Depot Police
Academy, ZRP Mkushi Academy, as well as donating 100 computers and printers to
the ZRP. The academy is named after the Mkushi Girls Training Camp in Zambia
that was attacked by Rhodesian forces in 1977 massacring many of the unarmed
female trainees.
“As you are aware, our country is now in election season with
the harmonised general elections due to be held on August 23 this year. I wish
to reiterate my administration’s zero tolerance to politically motivated
violence.
“Violence, divisive tendencies and nefarious machinations
are unacceptable and alien to our country’s politics. My Government will never
allow the present peace, unity and stability in our country to be tainted for
the political expediency of a few rogue pseudo politicians.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police must, thus, assume the
highest degree of vigilance to guarantee maintenance of law and order as well
as the protection of life and property, before, during and after elections. I
exhort you, the men and women in our police force, to be watchful, pro-active
and bring all perpetrators of politically motivated crimes to book, without
fear or favour.
“Meanwhile, I want to commend our people, throughout the
country, for showing a high level of political maturity since the proclamation
of the election date. Let us all continue with this culture of peace, unity and
oneness as we demonstrate that our country is now a mature democracy.
“The atmosphere
that has characterised all political activities to
date, is applauded. Going forward, I call upon the citizenry to say, no to
violence in all its forms. Let us all cultivate, nurture and preach peace,
unity, political tolerance, love and harmony,” President Mnangagwa said.
On commissioning the vehicles, the President said, his
Government has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to build the capacity of
the police through the gradual modernisation and incremental provision of tools
of trade.
“This consignment of vehicles, which is the third batch
availed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police by the Second Republic, is part of a
range of interventions we are making to elevate the capacity of the police
force to deliver on its Constitutional mandate.
“It is equally with a deep sense of pride and reverence
that we are also witnessing the official re-naming of the Police Academy from
Morris Depot to ZRP Mkushi Academy. The facility is the country’s premier
police training institution of excellence. Its new name is a befitting honour
to the many sons and daughters of our motherland, Zimbabwe who sacrificed life
and limb under the brutal racist Rhodesian regime, to bring about the
independence, freedom, democracy, peace and stability we are enjoying today.
“You may recall that since 2017, the Zanu PF Government
took a deliberate and bold decision to rename our key national institutions and
facilities in recognition of our country’s rich liberation war heritage,” he
said.
President Mnangagwa said this was also in keeping with the
spirit and letter of Section 23, sub-section (1) of the National Constitution
which exhorts the State and all institutions and agencies of Government at
every level, to accord due respect, honour and recognition to veterans of the
liberation struggle.
He said to date, a series of facilities throughout the
country’s provinces have been renamed such as King George VI Barracks to Josiah
Magama Tongogara Barracks, Headquarters 3 Infantry Brigade in Mutare after the
late Comrade Hebert Wiltshire Chitepo and the Flyde Air Force Base, after the
late Comrade Jaison Ziyaphapha Moyo, as well as Thornhill Air Base to Josiah
Tungamirai Air Base.
He said Brady Barracks in Bulawayo was renamed Mzilikazi
Barracks and the Zimbabwe Military Academy cantonment in Gweru was renamed
Solomon Mujuru Barracks, while 4 Brigade Barracks was renamed Gava Musungwa
Zvinavashe Barracks, among many other such changes. “These names must help keep
our liberation war history revered, for posterity, as homage to our selfless
liberators. The unveiling of the new name for the Police Academy, ZRP Mkushi
Academy, epitomises aspects of the indelible history of our nation. The
colonial settler regime, in its typical merchant of death obsession, undertook
a ferocious and heartless attack on liberation fighters and chose to decimate
female guerrillas at Mkushi Girls Training Camp in Zambia.
“The Mkushi Camp, established by ZIPRA in 1977 housed
predominantly girls receiving basic training in security and aspects of public
administration and health, tasked with serving the liberation war effort from
the rear. The massacre at Mkushi Camp of these unarmed ZAPU female cadres on
October 19 1978, along with similar attacks at Freedom Camp on the same day in
October 1978, Nyadzonya Massacre in August 1976 and Chimoio Massacre in
November 1977 stand in history, as a reminder of the brutality of the colonial
regime,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the Mkushi Camp attack was also a testimony of the
role, contributions and sacrifices made by the women of Zimbabwe, during the
liberation struggle.
He said under his administration, women continue to be
accorded due recognition across all levels of society.
“In honour of the yesteryear sons and daughters who fought
for our independence. I challenge the Zimbabwe Republic Police and others who
will pass through this ZRP Mkushi Academy, to never forget this sacred history.
Our country’s independence and the democracy we have today did not come on a
silver platter.
“Individually and collectively we have a duty to defend and
protect our sacred motherland, Zimbabwe. Never again shall our people be
subjected to the brutal indignity of subjugation, under whatever guise. As the
people of Zimbabwe, we shall forever be masters of our own destiny,” he said.
He said as the country was marching to realise the national
vision of becoming a prosperous and empowered upper middle income economy by
2030 and to achieve this, a peaceful and secure environment was key.
“This weighty responsibility lies with the Zimbabwe
Republic Police as the primary agency entrusted with law enforcement. This role
of our Police Service in the sustainable socio-economic development of our
nation must never be taken lightly. I, therefore, enjoin you to fully utilise
all the resources at your disposal for the continued peace, security and
stability of our beloved Motherland, Zimbabwe.
“The 132
vehicles we are
commissioning include off-road pick up vehicles, some of which are targeted
for border line patrols. The vehicles before us will enhance your mobility and
responsiveness which are critical elements of policing.
“The provision of these vehicles should complement other
initiatives such as community policing, which emphasises all of society’s
involvement in the realisation of peace and security. I am equally mindful that
policing, especially in today’s modern age, requires an array of resources
beyond the vehicles we are handing over today,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said his Government was also in the
process of mobilising resources to acquire modern ICT-based equipment and
products to ensure that the police meet the demands of contemporary policing.
Smart policing and ICT-based technologies had to be
accelerated to enable the police force to be ahead of the criminality
associated with a globalised world.
“I exhort you to urgently form strategic partnerships with
other arms of Government to make technology a key pedestal in the fight against
crime as you implement the ZRP strategic plan. You must do more to modernise
your operations; my Government will support your needs.
“My Government and
society at large remain concerned with the rise of drug and substance abuse
among our youths. My administration has since declared zero tolerance to drugs
and substance abuse. In this regard, I challenge the police and other
stakeholders, including the private sector, to continuously rise to the
challenge and ensure that those involved in the production and distribution of
drugs and illicit substances are brought to book. Our youth must be allowed to
grow up in a safe environment free from drug and substance abuse, to live
productive and fulfilling lives. The onus is upon all of us, to play our part.
We must never stand by and risk losing a whole generation to this scourge. It
is my hope that this fleet of vehicles will enhance the capacity of the ZRP to
track down and bring to book drug peddlers and their cartels,” he said. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment