Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube and Natalie Muzore, Chronicle Reporters
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and their Botswana counterparts held a one-day sports gala in Victoria Falls on Saturday, in an effort to cement bi-national relations.
The event is one of the strategies agreed upon by the two countries to interact and share ideas on how to curb cross border crime such as border jumping, smuggling, drug and human trafficking, cattle rustling and poaching.
President Mnangagwa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi signed some Memoranda of Understanding at the 3rd session of the Zimbabwe/Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Victoria Falls in February where they agreed, among other strategies, to find social platforms to enhance relations around a wide range of socio-economic issues.
Already police in Kasane and Victoria Falls have been actively involved in fighting cross border crime along their common border, a case in point being the recent arrest of a gang that was caught with bombs while attempting to cross to Botswana and the case is pending in the courts.
In an effort to implement the agreements, police in Victoria Falls District and Kasane District organised the Zimbabwe/Botswana Inter-District Sports Gala, where teams competed in soccer, netball, volleyball, pool, darts, tug of war and chess.
ZRP prevailed in soccer, netball, darts, and tug-of-war while Botswana police won in both female and male volleyball as well as pool.
At the end of the day, the biggest winner was peace and security as the building of bi-national relations even permeated into ordinary citizens as Victoria Falls residents joined the two police organisations to cheer their teams in what turned out to be a sports day well spent.
Deputy Officer Commanding police in Matabeleland North Assistant Commissioner Rachel Potso Mpofu, who was guest of honour, said sport enhances both relations and mental health.
She said the event was part of implementation of the agreements signed by the two Heads of State.
“Today we feel privileged to host you at this Bi-National Inter-district Sports Gala between our two police districts. These sporting activities are earmarked to improve our residual cooperation as well as a way of forging and cementing our already existing bi-lateral relations.
“These sporting activities are coming up as a follow up to the resolutions on police matters of the bi-lateral implementation matrix which was held in February where it was resolved that Victoria Falls and Kasane District should conduct a one-day Inter District Sports Gala,” she said.
Superintendent Patricia Seiso, who is officer-in-charge of Kasane Airport in Botswana, said partnership between police in the two countries is key to the bigger goal of enhancing relations.
“This brought together police from the two countries to interact through sport. By now every one of us should have made friends. If not, then you are a loser because the aim of this event was not to win the games but to build relations and make friends which is what has happened,” she said.
In her welcoming remarks, Officer Commanding Police Victoria Falls District Chief Superintendent Rudo Chitombi said the sports gala was a way of making all members of the police regardless of rank contribute to fighting cross border crime.
— @ncubeleon
Online Reporter