adminNyasha Mlambo Herald Reporter
Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba has urged metropolitan and traffic officers to work hard to help transform Harare into a world class city by 2025.
He said this could only be achieved if the officers guarded against abusing their office, engaging in corruption and disregarding human rights.
He encouraged them to upgrade themselves education-wise.
Cllr Gomba said this last week at a pass-out parade for 741 public safety officers comprising 430 men and 311 women.
He said council was committed to instituting order in the city through the enforcement of its by-laws.
“This graduation ceremony is a testimony that council is determined to enforce its by-laws,” he said. “This brigade is part of our roadmap to a world class city by 2025.”
“It remains a challenge to the graduands today to keep abreast with professional developments both locally and abroad and therefore it is incumbent upon every one of you to improve on your knowledge, skills and personal qualities,” he said.
Cllr Gomba urged the officers to promote an enabling environment and an investor friendly atmosphere while performing their duties.
He encouraged them to be impartial in their duties and to treat everyone equally regardless of their background, colour or creed.
“It is pleasing that council continues to cultivate an enabling environment and an investor friendly atmosphere that ensures Harare remains a priority destination for all progressive and peace-loving citizens of our beloved country, including the regional and international community, regardless of one’s background, colour or creed,” said Cllr Gomba.
“The graduands before us today have undergone a vigorous five-month public safety training programme.”
Cllr Gomba commended the recruitment policy which promoted gender equality, empowerment of women and emphasised on imparting skills to women in areas that were predominantly reserved for males.
“The Constitution provides in Section 17 subsection 1 (a) that the State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men and (2) rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practices,” he said.
The Mayor urged officers to work together with the police to ensure that residents were protected.
“Police officers are not only guardians of law and order, but also symbols of moral uprightness,” he said. “Municipal officers do not walk alone, but they work with the State police officers in delivering their duties and making sure that the city is in a good state.”
Speaking during the same ceremony, Harare City Council Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango applauded the officers for their eagerness to restore the city’s sunshine status.
“We have also witnessed in the past few weeks their zeal to have the city restore its sunshine status,” he said. “These are the men, women, boys and girls that are involved in the current clean-up and restoration of order in the city.”
One of the achievements of the clean-up was that council managed to regain control of Carter and Paget houses in Mbare 10 years after it lost it to an infamous violent outfit called Chipangano.
Online Reporter