Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE welfare and accommodation of police officers deployed to border districts are critical to national security and effective service delivery, the police officer commanding Matabeleland South Province, Commissioner Elizabeth Phiri, has said.
Speaking on Wednesday while officially opening a reconstructed four-roomed residential block and a new cold room for police rations at Beitbridge Police District, Commissioner Phiri said better working and living conditions were essential for officers tasked with securing the country’s borders.
The residential block replaces one that was destroyed by fire in November 2025.
Matabeleland South shares four border points with Botswana — Mlambapele, Maitengwe, Plumtree and Mpoengs — and one with South Africa at Beitbridge.
Police officers and other security personnel are deployed at forward bases along the borders to combat crime and curb illicit activities across the country’s borders. Many rely on resources provided by their respective organisations during their tours of duty, making adequate accommodation and the proper storage of food supplies essential.
Addressing senior officers, business representatives, church leaders and junior officers, Commissioner Phiri said the fire had not only destroyed a building but had also affected the welfare and morale 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 described the new facilities as symbols of 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.
Commissioner Phiri said the reconstruction was aligned with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Moonshot Strategic Plan, which is derived from the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, with an emphasis on smart, sustainable infrastructure and improved conditions for police officers.
“Improved infrastructure acts as the backbone of an organization, 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 residential block would accommodate four police families, providing greater stability for officers to concentrate on their duties while their children pursued their studies and their spouses contributed to the community.
Commissioner Phiri also highlighted the importance of the new cold room, saying proper food storage was essential to the welfare and operational effectiveness of officers working at the busy border post.
“The cold room will ensure that rations are safely kept fresh and in a hygienic environment without waste. 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.
She added that the facility would help reduce costs and improve accountability in the management of station resources.
Commissioner Phiri urged the officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, to establish proper systems for access control, record-keeping and maintenance of the cold room.
She also called on the beneficiaries of the residential block to take good care of the property.
She said adequate resources for security personnel protecting the country’s borders were vital, particularly at Beitbridge, which handles high volumes of people and goods and faces challenges associated with 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 to safeguard the facilities as public assets, use them for their intended purposes and serve the community with renewed commitment.
Business Against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe (BACFOZ) chairperson Dr Felix Venge said the cold room represented a shared commitment between the police and the business community to improve security.
“This cold room is a symbol of our shared commitment, partnership and determination to support the police in carrying out their duties. We believe that when the business community and the police work together, we create a safer environment for everyone,” he said.
Dr Venge said fighting crime was not the responsibility of the police alone but required cooperation and trust among all stakeholders.
