Chihuri hails media

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
POLICE Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has hailed media houses in Zimbabwe for exhibiting responsible journalism when they all condemned the acts of banditry that culminated in the bombing of the Zanu-PF offices in Harare last week.Welcoming 26 police officers who returned from peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Liberia and sending off another 14, the police chief said media reports from the public and private media castigated the bombing, a sign of responsible journalism.

“I am pleased to note that the generality of our population has accepted the doctrine of peace despite what happened recently in Highfield around Jongwe Printers where I was happily surprised to read that all the media houses condemned the acts of banditry.

“I think the media fraternity, for once, got it right this time,” he said.
Commissioner Gen Chihuri emphasised the centrality of peace to national development.

“Peace is a complementary pre-requisite for the efficiency and effective discharge, not only of the police duties, but all human activities be they social or economic activities.

“There is always need for a peaceful environment,” he said.
He commended the police for maintaining peace during the harmonised elections.

“May you allow me to commend the officers and members of the police for their dedication to duty before, during and after the harmonised elections.

“They did their best. I must say so as I should emphasise the part played by the general public in observing peace during the same.
“All people applied themselves whole-heartedly to the observation of peace right across the political divide. I believe that was god-given,” he said.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the police was committed to gender equality as more women officers were being sent to peacekeeping missions.
The number of female officers participating in peacekeeping duties increased to 48 percent, a positive development compared with the previous years where the duties were more the preserve of men, he said.

The police chief showered accolades on the female officers whom he said were flying the national flag higher through high standards of professionalism while in other countries.