Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
The officer commanding Matabeleland South Province, Commissioner Elizabeth Phiri, has said improving the welfare and accommodation of police officers deployed to border districts is critical for national security and effective service delivery.
Commissioner Phiri said this on Wednesday while officially opening a reconstructed four-roomed residential block and a new cold room for rations at Beitbridge police district.
The four-roomed block replaces one that was destroyed by fire in November 2025. Matabeleland South Province shares five borders: four with Botswana (Mlambapele, Maitengwe, Plumtree and Mpoengs) and one with South Africa at Beitbridge.
The police, along with other security personnel, are deployed to forward bases dotted along the borders with the two countries to combat crime and curtail illicit linkages into or out of the country.
Personnel at these bases are periodically rotated, and most of them rely on resources from the force and employers during their tour of duty, some of which are perishable.
Security agents on Zimbabwe’s borders with Botswana and South Africa also need a combination of people, mobility, surveillance technology, inspection equipment, infrastructure, and cross-border coordination.
Addressing senior officers, members of the business community, church leaders and junior officers, Commissioner Phiri said the incident was not just the loss of a building, but a blow to the morale and welfare of officers and their families.
“It is common knowledge that we as police have accommodation challenges and it is therefore quite disheartening to lose any of the existing infrastructure through a human act,” she said.
She said the new facilities symbolise resilience and institutional renewal.
“From the ashes of what was lost, we now commission far better facilities that stand the test of time,” she said.
Comm Phiri said the reconstruction aligns with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Moonshot strategic plan, which is derived from the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2) and Vision 2030, which emphasises building smart and sustainable infrastructure for the better welfare of members.
“Improved infrastructure acts as the backbone of an organisation, without which service delivery is compromised. Proper housing brings dignity to our officers and their families as they usually sacrifice so much to keep our communities safe,” she said.
She said the block will provide much-needed accommodation for four police families, creating stability that allows officers to focus on duty, children to study and spouses to contribute meaningfully to the community.
Comm Phiri also highlighted the importance of the new cold room for the district, noting that operational effectiveness at a busy border post depends on welfare.
“The cold room will ensure that rations are safely kept fresh and in a hygienic environment without waste, she said.
“We are assured that police officers on duty, whether on patrol or on 24-hour shifts, will have access to proper health meals.”
She said the facility will also reduce costs and improve accountability in the management of station resources.
She urged the officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, to put proper systems in place for access control, record-keeping and maintenance of the cold room, and implored beneficiaries of the residential block to maintain it.
Comm Phiri stressed that resourcing security teams charged with securing the country’s borders cannot be overemphasised, as Beitbridge handles high volumes of people, goods and cross-border crime.
“The Commissioner General of police remains committed to improving the conditions of service for our police officers. When we take care of those who protect us, we strengthen our national security,” she said.
She urged officers in the district to protect the assets as property of the people of Zimbabwe, to use them for their intended purposes and to serve the community with renewed energy.
Business Against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe (BACFOZ) chairperson, Dr Felix Venge, said the cold room was more than just a structure, but a symbol of shared commitment between the police and the business community.
“This cold room is a symbol of our shared commitment, partnership and determination to support the police in carrying out their duties,” he said.
“We believe that when the business community and the police work together, we create a safer environment for everyone.”
He said fighting crime is not the responsibility of the police alone, but requires cooperation and trust among all stakeholders.
