Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
POLICE in Bulawayo have launched weekly community outreach programmes, aimed at enhancing its public relations, as well as promoting and nurturing trust with the public.
Dubbed the Community Policing Interactive Centres (CPIC), the second weekly outreach, which was held yesterday at 12 centres across the city, saw Zimbabwe Republic Police’s senior officers meeting and addressing members of the public on matters affecting their security and peace.
Officer commanding Bulawayo Province Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, met and addressed residents in Cowdray Park suburb, where he urged residents not to hesitate to speak out on matters that could easily be addressed by the police.
In a statement, Bulawayo provincial assistant police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the outreach programmes would give communities a full measure of service.
“The initiative was launched on 23 February and is ongoing. The provincial district and station leadership will be going out to meet with the people in line with the ZRP theme, which entails ‘ZRP re-branding to restore public confidence for peace and economic development in the second republic’. It is therefore the police’s fervent desire to always keep improving on service delivery such that we meet national demand, a stance accurately captured by the theme,” said Insp Ncube.
He said centres were being set up at various business areas across the city, where the public can meet and talk with the police leadership.
“The envisaged goals are mainly to give the public a chance to express their concerns to the police and to become partners in finding tailored solutions to their problems, which in turn will lead to improved crime prevention. We also want to increase the flow of information from the public to the police and vice versa,” said Insp Ncube.
He said the weekly outreach programmes that would be held every weekend will also assist in equipping members of the public on community policing initiatives.
“There are neighbourhood watch committees, home officer’s scheme, junior call clubs, business against crime forums, crime consultative committees, suggestion boxes, WhatsApp, as well as the use of the police hotlines and toll free lines,” he said.
Insp Ncube added that the initiative would also allow police leadership to have an insight of current affairs in their respective station areas.
“We appeal to members of the public to support this noble cause by interacting, sharing information and grievances with police. As ZRP we value each and every person’s views and ideas or any form of information that may assist us in creating a safe environment for business.
“We therefore urge the public to feel free and engage with the police so they can understand what is on the table. This will also go a long way in providing feedback to parties, the police and the public,” said Insp Ncube.
derick.khumalo