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$3 million from spot fines too little to fund ZRP
15 Jul 2014 at 06:09hrs | Views
The $3 million that is collected and retained by the Zimbabwe Republic Police from spot fines and other receipts is not enough to fund operations of the force, parliament heard on Monday.
Home Affairs permanent secretary Melusi Matshiya told the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence, home affairs and security services while giving oral evidence on the consolidated expenditure quarterly return as at March 31, that police needed more than $3m monthly to effectively deliver on their mandate.
"The figure of $3m might be impressive when you hear it. But it is too little to fund our disciplined forces," Matshiya said.
"We have over 700 police stations in 10 provinces of the country, excluding other cost centres. Considering that we do not get funds allocated to us through treasury on time, funds retention has actually kept the force afloat. However, the money is not enough."
Matshiya said the police force does not keep every cent that it collects: "No, we are only allowed certain revenue streams and those revenue streams we account for (them). The comptroller and the auditor general went through, audited everything and gave the police a clean bill".
Matshiya said government should consider funding the Home Affairs ministry with haste since under-capitalisation of the force may compromise service-delivery.
He said some police stations were using waste paper for criminal records at times even going beyond the call of duty to purchase bond paper.
Despite donning tattered uniforms and shoes and sharing police hats, Matshiya said the force remained disciplined.
"This affects me. I interact with the police every day. It is difficult to command a demoralised group," Matshiya said.
There has been a public uproar over the unending police checkpoints some of which have been turned into daily cash-cows by unscrupulous officers.
Tax-collector general Gershem Pasi last month asked parliament to intervene and force the police to remit every cent they get to the consolidated revenue fund to reduce cases of corruption.
However, his request was met with a sharp rebuke from police spokesperson Charity Charamba who accused Pasi of "pushing an agenda".
Home Affairs permanent secretary Melusi Matshiya told the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence, home affairs and security services while giving oral evidence on the consolidated expenditure quarterly return as at March 31, that police needed more than $3m monthly to effectively deliver on their mandate.
"The figure of $3m might be impressive when you hear it. But it is too little to fund our disciplined forces," Matshiya said.
"We have over 700 police stations in 10 provinces of the country, excluding other cost centres. Considering that we do not get funds allocated to us through treasury on time, funds retention has actually kept the force afloat. However, the money is not enough."
Matshiya said the police force does not keep every cent that it collects: "No, we are only allowed certain revenue streams and those revenue streams we account for (them). The comptroller and the auditor general went through, audited everything and gave the police a clean bill".
Matshiya said government should consider funding the Home Affairs ministry with haste since under-capitalisation of the force may compromise service-delivery.
Despite donning tattered uniforms and shoes and sharing police hats, Matshiya said the force remained disciplined.
"This affects me. I interact with the police every day. It is difficult to command a demoralised group," Matshiya said.
There has been a public uproar over the unending police checkpoints some of which have been turned into daily cash-cows by unscrupulous officers.
Tax-collector general Gershem Pasi last month asked parliament to intervene and force the police to remit every cent they get to the consolidated revenue fund to reduce cases of corruption.
However, his request was met with a sharp rebuke from police spokesperson Charity Charamba who accused Pasi of "pushing an agenda".
Source - The Zim Mail
