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Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) must tame the traffic jungle on the country’s roads through the implementation of the electronic management system and curb the road carnage which has been on the rise over the years, President Mnangagwa has said.

The Head of State and Government said this yesterday while delivering a keynote address during a police recruit graduation ceremony held at Mkushi Academy.

“The high rate of indiscipline on our roads, which has resulted in the loss of countless lives due to road carnage, is disturbing. More worrisome is the fact that a total of 4 069 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2024 compared to 2 104 in 2023, reflecting an astonishing 93% increase.

“The ZRP is challenged to tame the traffic jungle by speedily implementing the Electronic Traffic Management System.

“I call upon all Zimbabwean citizens to respect the country’s traffic laws and cooperate with law enforcement agencies,” said President Mnangagwa.

Most urban roads have seen the heavy presence of pirate vehicles, commonly known as mushikashika and have been a menace for their notoriety in flouting traffic laws, thereby contributing to road carnages.

President Mnangagwa said the recent handover of 500 vehicles for police operations showed Government commitment to ensure that they fulfil their constitutional mandate.

“On its part, Government is fully aware that adequate human capital and material resources are a prerequisite for the ZRP to fulfil their constitutional mandate. Mindful of this, my Administration will ensure that the Force is well equipped with tools of the trade,” he said.

The President said the recent purchase and handover of 500 vehicles for police operations is a clear testimony of the Government’s commitment.

“It is my sincere hope that the vehicles distributed across the country have enhanced the operational capacity of the ZRP,” he said.

Modern ICT hardware and software are now of critical importance to an effective Force, said President Mnangagwa.
“Therefore, Government is committed to prioritising the deployment of ICT-enabled systems to address challenges and opportunities presented by the ever-changing environment.

“The various high-impact innovations that are being undertaken by the Zimbabwe Republic Police such as the Automated Fingerprint System will aid investigations and subsequent convictions of both first and repeat offenders.

More innovations of this type should be encouraged to enhance efficiency in the justice delivery system,” he said.
President Mnangagwa called for discipline among officers, saying it was a cog to a security organisation such as the ZRP, serving as a compass that guides sound actions.

To that end, he called upon them to shun corruption.
“As officers in the field, you will encounter all forms and types of temptations that will test your character, judgment, resolve and indeed your patriotism. Remain resolute and demonstrate high levels of integrity.

“Shun corruption by whatever name. The image of the country and indeed of the Zimbabwe Republic Police rests upon your shoulders. Guard it jealously,” said President Mnangagwa.

He bemoaned the prevalence of armed robbery cases and urged the ZRP to account for all those committing crime and implored communities to render assistance on crime prevention.

Turning to the renaming of Mkushi Police Academy from Morris Depot in July 2023, President Mnangagwa said that was in line with the deliberate and critical step taken by his administration to memorialise and immortalise the bravery of both living and departed heroes and heroines who fought against colonialism.

“The name Mkushi Police Academy particularly honours the contributions of our gallant daughters who perished in 1978 at the Zipra Mkushi Girls’ Camp in Zambia.

“It is my hope that the graduating class and indeed the police service as a whole will continue to be inspired and emboldened by the same spirit of courage and selflessness that characterised that generation of the youth at the Mkushi Camp,” he said.

The President challenged the police academy to entrench the values that sustained the country’s liberation struggle, which is an indelible character trait of the nation.

“The many young men and women who pass through these gates are called upon to serve our motherland with honour, dignity and distinction. Patriotism and a deeply rooted sense of nationalism should be fully embraced by police officers, who remain custodians of the peace, security and stability of our country,” he said.

President Mnangagwa challenged the new Police Commissioner General, Stephen Mutamba to transform the Police Service so that it is best equipped to handle and manage the current security environment, dictated by the ongoing socio-economic developments of the country, and emerging new scenarios at regional and international levels.

Police recruits march during the ceremony yesterday

He said it was pleasing that the 907 recruits graduating were drawn from all the country’s ten provinces, in line with the Government’s devolution and decentralisation programme.

“Unlike yesteryear where physical height and stamina were critical attributes for joining the Force, today policing is no longer a walk in the park. The challenges in this profession now require higher levels of knowledge and broader skills.

“Hence, the importance of a deliberately designed training curricula that moulds competent and professional police officers. In this regard, it is commendable that the two-year Diploma programme undertaken by the graduating class incorporated an elaborate syllabi of contemporary policing courses,” said President Mnangagwa.

Some of the courses include Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23), Police Duties and Investigation, Crime Investigations, Criminal Procedure and the Law of Evidence, Human Rights and Policing, Public Order Management, History of Policing and Civic Education, among others.

President Mnangagwa said contemporary policing dictates that the police academies leverage on synergies with established academic and training institutions, such as universities, among other stakeholders.

He hailed the ZRP’s continued contribution to regional and global peace through participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions saying it was on account of good standing as a professional Force that upholds best practices in policing.

Yesterday’s event was characterised by various police displays that entertained guests who included parents, spouses and guardians of graduates

The event was attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet Ministers, Heads of Government departments, agencies, service chiefs and captains of industry, among others.