Police Amendment Bill gazetted

The Government has gazetted the Police Amendment Bill, which seeks to overhaul the Police Act and bring it into full alignment with the provisions of Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution.

The Bill, published in yesterday's Government Gazette, also makes consequential amendments to sections of the Prisons and Correctional Service Act, the Criminal Code, and the Private Voluntary Organisations Act.

According to the Bill, one of the key changes is the formal replacement of the term "Police Force" with "Police Service" to reflect the constitutional shift from a militarised to a service-oriented policing model.

"This clause amends the definition of the Commissioner-General and replaces the term ‘Police Force' with the term ‘Police Service'. It also includes a definition of ‘basic training', which term is to be mentioned in section 50," reads part of the Bill.

Clause 4 sets out the procedure for appointing the Commissioner-General of Police in accordance with the Constitution, and outlines provisions for appointing deputies and delegating functions to them.

Clause 5 stipulates the terms and conditions of service for the Commissioner-General, including a five-year term renewable once.

"The Commissioner-General shall be appointed for a period of five years which may be renewed once," the clause states.

Under Clause 6, the Commissioner-General will be required to act in line with written policy directives issued by the Minister responsible for the police.

Clause 7 empowers the Police Service Commission to formulate standing orders on the advice of the Commissioner-General and with ministerial approval.

Clause 8 compels the Commissioner-General to comply with directives issued by the Prosecutor-General, while also making it mandatory to act on instructions from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission under section 243(2) of the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission under section 255(2).

The Bill also introduces changes to internal police administration. The Police Service Commission will have powers to promote non-commissioned officers and reappoint retired officers to the Regular Service.

Clause 12 expands the scope of duties for police officers to include the service or execution of any summons, subpoena, warrant, or other civil or criminal process permitted by law.

"The effect of this clause amending section 19 of the principal Act is to widen the scope of the duty of a police officer to serve or execute a ‘summons, subpoena, warrant or other criminal or civil process,'" reads part of the Bill.

Under Clauses 13 and 14, the Police Service Commission may discharge any member of the Regular Service - other than an officer - due to ill health or infirmity, while the Commissioner-General may also discharge a member with the Commission's consent.

The Bill also introduces new sections under Clauses 23 and 24, which criminalise the unauthorised use of police insignia, uniforms, badges, buttons, and braid, as well as the improper designation of items as Police Service property.

The proposed amendments mark a significant legislative step toward ensuring that the Zimbabwe Republic Police operates within a framework consistent with constitutional provisions on accountability, professionalism, and human rights.