Zimbabwe police to be highly visible during festive season

Police officers and other law enforcement agents will be heavily deployed countrywide to curb criminal activities and road carnage during this coming festive season, Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said yesterday.

The police service with other stakeholders such as the Vehicle Inspection Department and Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council would be highly visible on all major roads enforcing traffic rules and regulations.

Comm-Gen Matanga was addressing 25 officers in Harare who are set to leave for South Sudan on United Nations Peacekeeping duties, replacing 22 others recently returned from a similar mission.

"I wish to say that the festive season is upon us. It is therefore important that I take this opportunity on behalf of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to urge the nation especially all motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution on the roads. Let us all join hands in putting an end to carnage on our roads. Always remember not to drink and drive.

"We are also saying no to speeding. It is imperative that we all respect the sanctity of life. Towards this end, the Zimbabwe Republic Police together with other stakeholders such as the Vehicle Inspection Department and Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council shall be highly visible on all major roads enforcing traffic rules and regulations."

The successes achieved by police officers during their stint with the United Nations Mission as international peacekeepers were a true reflection of the deep-seated work ethos and discipline established within the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

"To date, a number of our police officers have earned accolades and medals on the international peacekeeping arena. This certainly, is testament to the character of the Zimbabwe Republic Police through our police officers over the years."

"I commend your commitment, courage and tenacity, the attributes that symbolises a true embodiment of policing excellence and a real demonstration of our African values of abhorring conflict in pursuit of peace," he said.

He was aware that the duty of peacekeeping had its own challenges. "You saw first-hand, the terrible consequences of war. As you recounted your experiences, it has left vivid images in our minds that you were dedicated to ensuring that the people of South Sudan enjoy the same peace that we have here in Zimbabwe.

"It is also clear that while your duties placed you in harm's way, such experience no doubt, engraved in you the virtues of self-sacrifice, justice and morality even as you join your peers and colleagues at the various workstations.

"I therefore implore you to draw lessons from all the situations that you grappled with during your international peacekeeping mission. Now is the time to blend such experience with that of your colleagues back home in a quest to maintain the prevailing peace and security," Comm-Gen Matanga said.

As police continued to refocus all their policing activities towards the attainment of National Development Strategy 1, which will take the nation halfway towards the attainment of a prosperous and empowered Upper Middle Income Economy by the year 2030.

Comm-Gen Matanga said this was a clarion call for all of them as police officers to direct their energies towards creating a safe and peaceful environment towards the realisation of the national vision.

"I wish to remind you that in order to deliver on our constitutional mandate, the organisation needs loyal and dedicated officers, who put their country and people first before self-comfort. The need therefore to perform all duties professionally and diligently can never be over-emphasised," he said.

On those going to South Sudan, Comm-Gen Matanga said they should shun all forms of behaviour that might bring the name of the organisation and country into disrepute.

The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Generals Learn Ncube and Elliot Ngirandi and Commissioners Erasmus Makodza and Abigail Moyo, among other senior police officers.