Chronicle Editor
Freeman Razemba , Harare Bureau
With the police receiving 450 new vehicles they are able to remain watchful and maintain peace and security, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi said yesterday when calling on Zimbabweans to abide by the country’s laws and shun disorder in any form or guise.
The Vice-President officiated at the handover of the 450 vehicles Government bought for the police to boost the Zimbabwe Republic Police fleet and for use in operations. The vehicles will be distributed to police stations countrywide.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, Permanent Secretary Ambassador Raphael Faranisi, Civil Registry Department Registrar Henry Machiri, Chief Director Immigration Ms Respect Gono, senior Government officials and police officers accompanied the Vice-President.
VP Mohadi said the significant addition to the police fleet will go a long way in improving police operations and enhance policing in the country.
“Criminality is evolving each day therefore it becomes paramount that Government continuously capacitates the police with modern tools of trade, which include motor vehicles. If you recall, late last year, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, Comrade Dr ED Mnangagwa handed over another batch of vehicles to you confirming Government’s commitment to enhancing your operations.
“These developments are despite fiscal constrains confronting us as a result of sanctions. Allow me therefore to highlight that, against our circumstances; this commissioning ceremony could not have come at a more befitting moment than now.
“A worrying trend in terms of criminality is the increasing abuse in drugs and other dangerous substances by our youths. This is not a desirable situation, as youths are the leaders of now and tomorrow. As your leadership, we have since initiated a multi-sectoral drug and substance abuse action plan to pave the way for all stakeholders in the country to strategise in fighting this scourge,” he said.
He challenged the police and all other stakeholders including the private sector to continuously rise up to the menace of drug and substance abuse.
Those involved in manufacturing and distribution of the dangerous drugs and substances were known and could only be defeated through cultivating an unbreakable chain of synergies with members of the public in this regard.
VP Mohadi said in a few days, Zimbabwe would be hosting the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government and that while they were aware that mischief makers were plotting all sorts of mischief, this was an opportunity for the county to market itself as an investment destination of choice.
“As a country, we must harness the goodwill that is resident in our region and leverage on opportunities extended to us through the SADC Industrialisation Strategy.
“Once again, it is however sad to note that while we are on the correct course, building Zimbabwe for posterity, there are some elements among us, itching to disrupt such progress. Let me reiterate His Excellency, President Dr ED Mnangagwa’s clarion call when he always says, “Zimbabwe inyika yevatema, inonamatigwa, nekuvakwa, pamwe nekutongwa nevene vayo“.
“We shall therefore continue to build it brick by brick, stone upon stone, vachida vasingadi. Those that want to cause mayhem in this country will never be tolerated. I thus call upon the citizenry to abide by the laws of the land, and shun disorder in any form or guise. As the police, I exhort you to remain watchful and maintain the peace and security that we are currently enjoying,” he said.
Minister Kazembe said: “I feel honoured to welcome you all to this important event, the commissioning of a batch of vehicles acquired by the Government for the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Hardly a year ago, we had the privilege to have His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa commission 755 vehicles for the police.
“This is a clear demonstration of the importance that the Government attaches to public safety through resourcing the police.”
He said the commissioning amplifies Government’s deep seated desire to guarantee public safety through resourcing vital arms of the Government such as the police.
The ministry was deeply grateful for being prioritised by the Government among many competing demands and that would go a long way in enabling and galvanising us to guarantee public safety.
“Indeed, this fleet of vehicles will go a long way in improving police service delivery. This is important given that the police require vehicles for scene attendance, public order management, patrols, traffic enforcements, border patrols and general administration. In this regard, it is necessary that each police station should not operate without any vehicle.”
With the commissioning of 1205 vehicles last year and this year most police stations would now have at least one vehicle and as such, the new batch would further enhance police capacity in the efficient discharge of their duties.
Online Reporter