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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the Zimbabwe Alliance of Private Security (ZAPS), a regulatory authority for security companies in the country.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Obedingwa Mguni said the ZAPS had been established to ensure that services offered by security companies were up to standard and would complement State security. He said the regulatory authority would govern security companies that provided security guards, tracking devices, security equipment and all other security related services.

Cde Mguni said all security companies were expected to become affiliates of ZAPS and meet its requirements.

He said various Government institutions and facilities were under supervision by private security personnel hence the need to engage them. “As a Ministry we have launched the Zimbabwe Alliance of Private Security together with security companies. Private security companies play a crucial role as they complement State security and as such we expect them to be professional, well trained and well equipped.

“That is why we have set up this regulatory authority that will closely monitor their operations. Our Ministry has all along been responsible for giving operating licences to security companies and in addition we want to monitor their activities,’’ the Deputy Minister said.

Cde Mguni said the regulatory authority comprised of a chief executive officer and board members and would organise training for security personnel to ensure they were properly trained and accredited security companies that met required standards. He said the regulatory authority was also going to put in place laws that would govern operations of security companies.

Cde Mguni said ZAPS personnel would also phase out underperforming companies.

“Security companies will be answerable to ZAPS which in turn will be monitored by our Ministry. Some of our crucial Government institutions such as borders are being manned by incompetent security officers. “Some of the security companies are manufacturing substandard products and in some cases equipment is being installed by untrained people and we want all these anomalies to come to an end,” he said.

Cde Mguni said the Ministry would organise a look and learn programme between ZAPS and established security regulatory authorities from other countries.

@DubeMatutu