happiness ChikwanhaArron Nyamayaro
COMMISSIONER General of police, Godwin Matanga, said police public relations liaison officers should be at the forefront of exploiting the power of social media for managing information which has public interest.
Speaking at an end-of-year workshop for police PR and liaison officers in Harare yesterday, Comm-Gen Matanga said they play an integral role in cultivating mutually beneficial relationships between the cops and the public.
“It is for this reason that the section’s role of providing accurate information to the public cannot be overemphasised.
“As an organisation, our image should not continue to be despised by our clientele, especially when we have a fully-functional Press and Public Relations section.
“It is your role to assess public attitudes and maintain the mutual relations between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the general public.
“As people who work with information, modern trends require that you harness technology in your public interactions,” said Comm-Gen Matanga.
He encouraged them to join hands with other specialised sections, such as the Victim Friendly Unit, to ensure that attention is also given to other crimes of concern.
Such cases include rape, domestic violence and child abuse, and he urged the PR and liaison officers to help society eliminate them.
The police chief also urged them to prioritise safety awareness campaigns ahead of the 2022 festive season.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter