Online Reporter
Online Reporter
A Bulawayo councillor has thrown his weight behind the proposed move to grant municipal police arresting powers, saying the development would strengthen the enforcement of council by-laws, improve service delivery and protect public infrastructure.
Ward 26 Councillor and City of Bulawayo Finance and Development Committee chairperson, Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, said the proposal should be viewed as a practical measure to enhance local governance rather than a political issue.
In an opinion statement, Cllr Moyo said residents should be provided with accurate information on the proposal to avoid speculation and misinformation on social media.
He said local authorities, including the City of Bulawayo, had for years advocated for municipal police to be granted arresting powers.
Cllr Moyo emphasised that the proposal was not intended to replace the work of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), but to complement it through specialised enforcement of municipal by-laws.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police continue to do an excellent job of maintaining law and order. However, local authorities administer hundreds of by-laws that require dedicated personnel to enforce them effectively. Empowering municipal police with arresting powers will improve compliance with these by-laws,” he said.
He cited specialised enforcement agencies such as Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers, saying different sectors often require officers with specialised training and responsibilities.
Cllr Moyo also noted that municipal police with arresting powers are common in several countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Canada, France, Italy, Spain and the United States.
He said the proposal complements Government’s drive to improve local authority performance under the Minimum Service Delivery Standards introduced following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2023 “No Compromise to Service Delivery” initiative.
According to Cllr Moyo, stronger enforcement powers would assist councils in protecting critical infrastructure from vandalism, citing repeated vandalism of electricity infrastructure at the Nyamandlovu Aquifer, which has disrupted Bulawayo’s water supplies.
He also said the proposed powers would help municipal police tackle illegal sand abstraction, illegal dumping, unauthorised water connections and environmental degradation.
“Illegal sand mining has caused serious land degradation in areas such as Pumula, while illegal dumping sites continue to emerge despite regular refuse collection by the council. Arresting powers would serve as a deterrent to offenders,” he said.
Cllr Moyo further argued that the powers would strengthen the city’s efforts to reduce non-revenue water by curbing illegal water connections and improve enforcement against the sale of expired and counterfeit goods.
He said municipal health inspectors often face challenges dealing with repeat offenders due to limited enforcement powers.
Cllr Moyo urged residents to support the proposed legislation, saying it is intended to modernise local government operations, improve service delivery and enhance environmental protection.
He also appealed for public debate on the proposal to be informed by facts rather than misinformation, saying policies designed to strengthen local authorities should not be politicised.
derick.khumalo