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Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
POLICE in Manicaland have called on the public to enjoy responsibly during the long public holidays by maintaining discipline and refraining from committing crime.
In his 2023 festive season state of policing message, Acting Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Assistant Commissioner Dr Arnold Makomo, said the general laxity that comes with this period sometimes leads to misconduct and disregard of the law.
He said while the law enforcement agents will be out to execute their duties through various policing initiatives, members of the public also have a role to play in upholding sanity at homes, workplaces and on the road to prevent the occurrence of seasonal incidents.
“As we are in the festive season, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Manicland Province is strategically positioning itself to effectively deal with traditional trends in policing as crime, road traffic accidents and other seasonal incidents that negatively impact on communities are the order of the day.
“Everyone in the province has a role to play in protecting life and safeguarding property, thereby bringing sanity to our environs. The Year 2023 is drawing to a close and it is everyone’s hope that we have a befitting conclusion to this eventful period without the festive season leaving many reeling under sad and unalterable circumstances of various dimensions,” said Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo.
Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo said police will be deployed throughout the province to prevent crime and maintain orderliness throughout the festive season.
“As police, our mandate is to preserve a state of orderliness and tranquillity in the country, and as such our officers shall be deployed at all strategic points to prevent the commission of crimes as well as curb road carnage. The public is, therefore, called upon to desist from hindering the police in the performance of their duties.
“The Christmas and New Year periods are associated with extreme jovial and merry making mood, but we should never indulge in the kind of behaviour that has often brought unbearable pain to ourselves and our communities. Drunkenness becomes excessive and there is general disregard of the law and self-restraint which results in the commission of crimes of violence like murder, assaults, public violence and various acts of individual misconduct,” he said.
He warned the public of criminal elements lurking to pounce on them as well as their homes and work premises.
Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo said people must be wary of burglars, pickpockets, cattle rustlers and armed robbers during the period.
“Homes must not be left unattended. Children, especially girls, should be left in the care of people we know and trust to prevent their abuse. With some companies paying their employees annual bonuses, both corporates and individuals must take the necessary measures to protect themselves from falling prey to criminals. Homesteads also need to put in place anti-stocktheft mechanisms to ensure that their livestock is safe,” he said.
He called on the public to stay alert at all times by taking precautionary measures.
“We must keep our excitement under check and enjoy responsibly. As we spent time at our homes, travel, do business, party and make merry, we need to ensure our own safety first and that of the next person, be they our children, relatives, neighbours or visitors. It is the general lapse in basic precautionary measures that has in the past rendered us susceptible to criminal vulnerability,” said Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo.
Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo urged motorists and pedestrians to always exercise caution on the roads.
“With the volume of vehicular traffic on our roads increasing, we must learn to police ourselves where and when our officers are not readily available. We should feel obliged to voice our concerns whenever there is bad driving, be it overloading (passengers or goods), speeding and recklessness such as going through red traffic lights or dangerous overtaking. The public must desist from boarding non-public service vehicles or those overloaded.
“All vehicles must be roadworthy and motorists should desist from driving under bad weather conditions or attempting to cross flooded rivers and bridges. Speeding and overloading are prohibited and drivers must take rest when feeling exhausted or sleepy. Livestock must be closed up in secure pens to prevent them from roaming on the roads as accidents may occur when motorists hit or try to avoid them. Let us not be a road traffic accident statistic or cause others to be,” he said.
The public can call or approach their nearest police stations for assistance in cases of emergency, Assistant Commissioner Dr Makomo added.
Online Reporter