admin
In his remarks at a passout parade for 545 police officers at Morris Depot in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe underscored the importance of unity in the country.
“We are blessed as Zimbabweans to have the sense to promote and hold onto unity, brotherliness and oneness. As has been passed to us over generations, a divided house cannot stand and the police should be commended for ensuring that this stable, peaceful and tranquil environment is preserved,” President Mugabe said.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said a true Zimbabwean cadre exuded true Zimbabwean values and benchmarks in his or her contribution to national development.
“We are just now grappling with what should be the last steps towards our new Constitution. Yet dirty local and foreign minds have been quick to tarnish this process and it is, I believe, in order to stress that the constitution-making process remains the preserve of and under the direction of citizens of Zimbabwe.
“I am happy to note that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is taking every step to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail during all important national processes,” President Mugabe said.
He said Zimbabweans have the right to vote in an enabling environment.
“I am quite confident that police will measure up to perpetrators of political violence. Similarly, political leaders should contribute immensely towards enhancing peace by encouraging their supporters to desist from violence and exhibit exemplary conduct,” he added.
President Mugabe applauded the ZRP for including the history of Zimbabwe as a course in its recruit training curriculum.
“This welcome development gives the trainees a complete context of the training they should undertake and reminds them that our erstwhile colonisers still try to subtly influence our people into disregarding the proud history of their country, which was redeemed by the protracted liberation struggle,” he said.
The President said equipping police officers with the history of Zimbabwe goes a long way in helping them comprehend why their country was relentlessly and unjustly vilified.
He said the officers needed a sense of belonging and patriotism.
“It is without doubt that people who are conscious and appreciative of their rich history and legacy are grounded in their thinking and value systems and they can be trusted to pass on the baton of our rich heritage to future generations,” he said.
President Mugabe took the opportunity to congratulate Zimbabweans for gracing this year’s 32 independence commemorations in their thousands.
The celebrations were held under the theme “Indigenisation and Empowerment for Social and Economic Transformation”.
“For doubting Thomases, today should be a reminder that nothing will extinguish the embers, the flames of our indigenisation drive. Indeed, the cause of the liberation struggle would be diluted and close to being unfulfilled as long as the black majority are denied the right to be full-time players and not substitutes in our mainstream economy,” President Mugabe said.
He bemoaned the continuous loss of lives through road accidents and urged motorists to adhere to traffic regulations.
Most of the accidents recorded so far this year have been blamed on human error.
“I applaud the police for increasing their vigilance and visibility on the roads, as well as undertaking public awareness campaigns countrywide aimed at curtailing road fatalities,” President Mugabe said.
A total of 545 recruits graduated and 147 of them were women.
Online Reporter