Zimbabwe faces police shortfall of 5 000 officers

THE country is facing a shortage of 5 000 police officers against an envisaged establishment of 50 000.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session in Parliament this week, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, said although the force trains between 1 000 and 2 000 officers annually, a number of officers are leaving due to retirements and the pursuit of other opportunities.

“Some police officers are leaving the service, with some changing professions while others are retiring or seeking different employment opportunities. We have informed the relevant authorities that we currently face a shortage of about 5,000 officers. However, addressing this gap cannot be done by the police alone—we must seek concurrence from the Treasury and the Public Service Commission, as they are responsible for employment structures and approvals,” said Minister Kazembe.

He said resignations and retirements are a normal occurrence in any organisation, as employees may choose to pursue other opportunities.

“Despite these challenges, we are working towards maintaining an establishment of 50 000 officers,” said Minister Kazembe.