Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube in NTABAZINDUNA
POLICE must embrace digital technology and mainstream adoption of advanced policing practices to combat increasingly sophisticated criminal activities across the country, President Mnangagwa has said.
He made the remarks at the pass-out parade of Intake 1 of 2024 at Ntabazinduna Police Training Academy yesterday.
The intake underwent the new one-year certificate course, which replaced the old six-month course.
The evolving nature of crime demanded a professional, technologically-equipped and community-oriented police service, he said, and underscored the need for continuous skills development.
The new officers, he said, had to uphold patriotism, loyalty and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
As Zimbabwe protected its national borders and tightened internal security systems, President Mnangagwa said everyone should be persistently vigilant against all criminal elements within and beyond.
“You are now equipped in the fundamentals of law enforcement and trained to handle complex frontiers of the modern criminal domain. Aspects related to violent crimes, networks of cybercrime and threats of terrorism are skills you must continually improve on, following the initial basic training you acquired during this course.
The President inspects the parade at the graduation of Intake 1 of 2024 at Ntabazinduna Training Academy yesterday.
“Knowledge and tools of the trade are only as good as those that wield them. From Zambezi to Limpopo, Plumtree to Mutare, we need police officers, men and women who are patriotic, loyal, skilled and committed to demonstrating unwavering professionalism,” said the President.
“You, our graduates and new officers, have the duty to serve the communities and people of Zimbabwe, with humility and selflessness.”
Addressing concerns over road traffic accidents and lawlessness on the country’s highways, President Mnangagwa directed the police and other traffic management agencies to urgently adopt contemporary technologies to enhance efficiency and safety.
“Meanwhile, our roads and highways are vital cogs for commerce, trade and community connectivity as well as cultural exchanges. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and other road traffic agencies are directed to urgently deploy contemporary technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, drones, surveillance cameras and electronic ticketing to increase efficiency and safety along all transport corridors,” he said.
“Recklessness and aggressive driving that often rob us of precious lives must be met with the necessary weight and force of the law. Citizens are called upon to obey traffic laws and play their part to restore order and accountability on our roads.”
The President said peace, unity and security remained central to Zimbabwe’s development aspirations.
“Peace, unity and security are fundamental pre-requisites for sustainable development, for accelerated industrialisation and modernisation. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and other stakeholders in the security sector are called upon to guard and promote the ongoing development trajectory.”
Warning against criminal networks, he said: “Criminal syndicates of any kind should never find sanctuary within our jurisdiction. All forms of deviant behaviour, such as corruption, fraud, money laundering, should be expunged, while perpetrators of gender-based violence, among other vices, must be timely prosecuted towards a crime-free Zimbabwe”.
President Mnangagwa wanted stronger collaboration within the criminal justice system, commending the existing cooperation between the police, prosecution authorities and the judiciary.
“To champion this thrust, the police service is challenged to remain alert and among our communities. The synergies and united front that exist between the Police Service, Prosecution Authorities and Judiciary is applauded,” he added.
“More must be done towards joint and complementary staff capacities and delivering quality services in our criminal justice system.”
President Mnangagwa said the security sector had to facilitate national development programmes.
“I call upon the ZRP and other sections of the country’s internal security architecture to be deliberate in their responsibility towards facilitating and not frustrating the impact of our policies and programmes. The police force and security apparatus, along with the public sector in general, should work in unison under the Whole-of-Government and Society Approach.
The President plants a tree at the colourful event.
“As the ZRP, you must aid positive results throughout the socio-economic arena and help reflect our national ‘Brand Zimbabwe’. Zimbabwe must continue to be a safe investment destination as well as a safe place to visit, live and work.”
The President emphasised the need for vigilance in the police in the fight against the scourge of drug and substance abuse, which he noted as threatening the nation’s sound societal base, anchored on the family, especially among young people, who are Zimbabwe’s future.
“I challenge you, the graduating class, to be relentless in fighting criminal activities and deviant behaviour associated with drug and substance abuse. Drug routes, supply and demand chains, over and above, the drug lords and kingpins should be expunged, without fear or favour,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The deployment of multi-pronged strategies, that guarantee vigorous border and mainland controls, by inter-agency teams, are being scaled up. We will never surrender our children and young adults to the menace of drug and substance abuse.”
President Mnangagwa reiterated that police officers should never be found using or facilitating the use, sale or movement of drugs and harmful substances.
Meanwhile, the President commended the ZRP for its forward-looking curriculum undertaken by the graduating class.
The graduating police contingent was the first batch to undergo a one-year training course at the academy, which is a shift from the previous six months course.
“This guarantees that the police service is built on our motherland’s rich past heritage and culture, in order to master the future, in a fast evolving world. Innovation and adaptability, in the training modules offered, must be continuous, so that the ZRP remains equipped to effectively play its role under the National Development Strategy 2 and the pursuit of Vision 2030 and beyond,” said President Mnangagwa.
“On its part, my Government continues to provide the requisite resources, tools and equipment as well as appropriate conditions of service.”
At yesterday’s pass out parade, 999 recruits graduated with Certificates in Police Studies. Of these, 302 were female and 697 male.
