admin
Mandaza Chikarango-Herald Correspondent
The new Chinamhora Police Station being built by Government will improve police services in the area and help police fulfil their constitutional mandate to create a peaceful and secure environment conducive for socio-economic development, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Njabulo Nzuza said yesterday.
The station at present uses cabins in an old colonial era camp, while the surrounding area is rapidly urbanising as a satellite of the greater Harare area. The local community, which is helping fund the new station and its required services, needs something considerably better so the police can deliver.
The sentiments come as Government, under the Second Republic, has implemented a cocktail of infrastructural development set to drive the country towards the desired upper middle income status by 2030, and attainment of such goals are premised on a safe and secure environment where people and the business community feel safe to go about their activities undeterred by the threat of crime.
In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s director of finance during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chinamhora charge office, the Deputy Minister said Government had embarked on robust initiatives that are set to fully resource the police force.
“The Government remains alive to the fact that the police are currently saddled by resource constraints. May I take this opportunity to inform you that, measures are being taken to not only optimally resource them, but to also equip the police with modern tools of trade that meet the demands of contemporary criminal sophistry,” he said.
Domboshava is seeing a rapid population rise as the area is fast evolving from a communal area to an urban area. This has also resulted in an increase in crimes with cases such as robbery and unlawful entry into premises, fraud cases emanating from land barons in the area fleecing desperate land seekers.
Petros Mutasa of Chief Chinamhora area welcomed the development.
“As community traditional leadership, we are coming with a donation for the construction office accommodation for ZRP Chinamhora. Initially, I had decided to build female cells, since there are none.
However, I then consulted with my headmen, village heads and the business community, we got support. We then decided to build a state of the art charge office. As a result, we have tasked each village head to mobilise resources from the willing community members so that the work on the station will be completed by December,”said Chief Chinamhora.
The structure to be constructed is expected to cost around US$200 000 and will be funded by the local community.
Also speaking at the event, Commissioner Charles Nhete gave gratitude to the Chinamhora community for their continued support to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“Indeed, the community of Chinamhora has proved on countless occasions to be a worthy and enduring partner as evidenced by numerous previous donations. For that, we remain greatly indebted to them.
Chairman of crime housing of Zimbabwe Mr Pasi Goredema said the construction of the police station will enhance efficiency in the way police would discharge their duties.
There will be accommodation for police officers as well as cells for both male and female prisoners.
Chinamhora Councillor for ward 2 Fanuel Chonyera said he has been delighted with the way residents united themselves to construct the police station.
“This Police sub station was previously a Rhodesian camp and the infrastructure as you can see is in a dilapidated state and the initiative by the residents is a noble gesture which will go a long way in ensuring a peaceful environment in our area,” said Mr Chonyera.
Ennie Murahwa, a Chinamhora resident, said she is excited with the move to construct a permanent police charge office.
“I am feeling excited. It has been several years since the police officers conducted their duties on makeshift cabins but now with the construction of a permanent police station, confidence in the police officers who work here is likely to be enhanced,” she said.
Another resident Cathrine Mapokotera of ward 4 said she felt uplifted as a woman, as there will be cells for women, a scenario which was absent when the police officers continued to operate on cabins.
“As women we are greatly honoured that there shall be a women prison cell at the police station, this will save my fellow women counterparts from sexual abuse,” said Mrs Mapokotera.
Online Reporter