Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande and Arron Nyamayaro
POLICE and traditional leaders in Mazowe are strengthening cooperation to curb crime, with chiefs playing a key role in combating robbery, stock theft and other violent offences.
Speaking at the launch of the revitalised Mazowe Client Service Charter Chapter on Friday, Officer Commanding Mazowe District Chief Superintendent Gladman Chiparaushe said closer cooperation with traditional leaders had helped address crime hotspots across the district.
“Traditional leaders are the custodians of our culture and way of life. For public service to move forward smoothly, the police must work hand-in-hand with traditional leaders,” he said.
Police approached Chief Chiweshe after tobacco farmers were repeatedly being robbed at their homes upon returning from auction floors with their proceeds.
The chief provided a base for police operations, resulting in the arrest of the suspected robbers within two weeks, after which the attacks ceased.
In Chief Makope’s area, police worked with the traditional leader to tackle stock theft through community awareness campaigns and targeted operations, leading to the arrest of suspected cattle thieves within a month.
Police also engaged Chief Negomo after cases of murder and robbery involving knife-wielding criminals increased in Jumbo.
“Right now, things have normalised,” Chief Superintendent Chiparaushe said.
He said the experiences demonstrated that traditional leaders were essential partners in identifying crime trends, mobilising communities and developing local solutions.
“If we see crime in Chief Chiweshe’s area, we go there, sit down with the chief, discuss the matter and share ideas on how best to resolve the problem,” he said.
Chief Negomo, whose real name is Paradzai Kutyauripo, urged Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers to move beyond police station walls and strengthen their presence in villages and communities.
He said the shift was necessary to improve information flow, build public trust and make crime-fighting more effective.
“Crime cannot be fully understood from behind station walls,” he said. “We need closer engagement with communities because people who live with the realities of crime every day understand the challenges better.”
The traditional leader encouraged police officers to listen to residents’ concerns and follow up on community leads with urgency and respect. He added that when police remain visible and accessible at community level, people are more willing to report incidents and share information that can assist investigations.
Chief Negomo said the revitalisation of the ZRP Client Service Charter was intended to advance community policing and modern service-delivery standards, urging officers to adopt a proactive approach anchored on professionalism, fairness and responsiveness.
“As traditional leaders, we uphold the moral values of our society and, with the assistance of police officers, we can build a crime-free society,” he said.
