Stick to principles, senior cops urged

Crime Reporter
Senior police officers have been challenged to adhere to the force’s guiding principles of policing and to exercise good leadership. Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri warned officers not to abuse their powers as this was discouraged by law and society.

He was speaking after conferring ranks to 86 newly promoted superintendents in Harare on Friday.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the superintendents were expected to be dependable reservoirs of knowledge and trusted dispensers of mature and well-grounded decisions in their pivotal role as the cog between the operational and tactical levels of the force.

“As a superintendent, you are to ensure that the organisation’s guiding principles of policing are earnestly adhered to.

“This requires that you provide accurate interpretation of the organisation’s strategic plans. You are expected to exercise leadership acumen with the ability to mould, inspire and motivate solid work teams,” he said.

He said they were now custodians of broad legal powers, duties and responsibilities that they needed to exercise with insight, conviction, boldness and confidence.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the Police Act assigns them the role of trial officer and that the force expected them to promptly dispose of cases of indiscipline.

He said they were also now justices of peace in terms of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of the Oath Act, Chapter 7:09.

“Allow me to say at this point that the exercise of these powers has a sting in the tail. Abuse of these powers is frowned upon by the law and the society in general.

“The same Act provides and prescribes a sobering sentence structure upon conviction for abuse of the same powers,” Comm-Gen Chihuri said.

President Mugabe last week promoted four senior police officers to the rank of commissioner and 454 others to the ranks between senior assistant commissioner and inspector.

Of the 454, fourteen were promoted to senior assistant commissioners, 32 assistant commissioners, 45 chief superintendents, 86 superintendents, 28 chief inspectors and 249 inspectors.