admin Senior Assistant Commissioner Moses Magandi
Manicaland 2014 Festive Season State of Policing (Message from the Officer Commanding Police Manicaland Province: Senior Assistant Commissioner Moses Magandi). THE year 2014 is drawing to a close and it is everyone’s hope that we have a befitting conclusion to this eventful period. As the festive season approaches, the ZRP is strategically positioning itself to grapple with the traditional trends in policing where crime, road traffic and other seasonal incidents that impact badly on our people are usually the order of the day.
In his remarks at the conclusion of a two-week-long Community Relations Liaison Officers’ course that was meant to train and equip police officers in public relations roles with requisite skills to effectively carry out their duties, the Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Moses Magandi, sounded a wake-up call to the officers to take up their new roles with rejuvenated vigour particularly at this point in time when police activities become central in the day-to-day affairs of every citizen. On the other hand, the senior officer took the opportunity to appeal to the general public to ensure a crime- and accident-free festive season.
Yearly statistics always point to this perpetual concern.
Although the province managed to reduce overall crime from 2 594 in 2012 to 2 273 in 2013, the figures remain uncomfortably too high. Comparable months of October and January for 2013 and 2014 also indicate slight downward trends in some crimes of concern and these include Theft, Unlawful entry into premises, Stock Theft, and Robbery (Plain and Armed), among a host of others. It is, however, important to observe that the general trend for each year is a sudden rise as we move into the festive season and a gradual decline as we move away from this period.
The provincial police commander highlighted that every person in the province should play a role in protecting life and safeguarding property thereby bringing sanity to our environs.
The festive season has often left many reeling under sad and unalterable circumstances of various dimensions. As we move closer to Christmas and New Year, periods that are associated with extreme jovial and merry-making mood, we should never forget the kind of behaviour that has often brought unbearable pain to our communities. This period is characterised by vast movement of people from urban to rural areas or vice versa. Homes are left unattended and children especially girls are left in the hands of potential abusers. This is a time when companies pay their employees annual bonuses and there is increased movement of cash from one destination to the other. The need to capitalise on the hard-spending individuals and make a killing in quick profits often supersedes that of taking necessary measures for companies/individuals to protect themselves from falling prey to criminals. 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.
Furthermore, the demand for meat during the festive period will rise and cases of stock theft will also be on the increase because of the availability of a ready market for meat.
The sudden availability of large sums of money as alluded to above should actually go along with the exercise of utmost individual discipline. Check your excitement and be responsible. As we spend time in our homes, travel, do business, party and make merry, ensure your own safety first and that of the person next to you, be they your 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.
As police our mandate is to preserve a state of orderliness and tranquillity in the country and as such police officers shall be deployed at all strategic points to prevent road carnage and the commission of all crimes. The public is therefore called upon to desist from the tendency of wanting to commit crime and disrespecting as well as disobeying police officers. In fact, they must refrain from hindering the police in the performance of their duties.
As I am speaking, the volume of vehicular traffic on our roads has increased immensely and already, the roads have had their toll with lives already lost in some parts of the country, Manicaland not spared. It is my appeal that we should learn to police ourselves where the police are not readily available and we should feel obliged to do any of the following:-
always voice your concern where there is bad driving conduct be it overloading (passengers or goods), speeding, and recklessness such as going through red robots or overtaking at blinds.
desist from the habit of boarding non-public service vehicles or an already full loaded vehicle.
ensure your livestock especially cattle and donkeys are closed up in pens during the night. These roam or sleep on highways and accidents have occurred when motorists hit or try to avoid them.
Slow down or park vehicles in bad weather i.e. during heavy rains or in misty conditions. Do NOT attempt to cross flooded rivers or bridges.
keep vehicles with defects off the road. Always think; brakes, lights, indicators, tyres, wipers, suspension, etc.
do not drive whilst under fatigue i.e. tired or exhausted or when feeling sleepy.
plan your journeys in advance to avoid speeding or urging drivers to speed in order to catch up with time.
DO NOT BE A STATISTIC OR CAUSE OTHERS TO BE. Let us all make this festive season joyful and memorable. Remember the Zimbabwe Republic Police is for a safe and transforming nation.
In case of any emergency, you may contact the police in Manicaland Province on any of the following operations numbers:-
Provincial Headquarters
020-64288
Mutare Central District Headquarters 020-61042
Mutare Rural District Headquarters 020-66354
Rusape District Headquarters 025-2361
Chipinge District Headquarters 0227-2401
Nyanga District Headquarters 0298-600
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