ZRP rolls out body cameras, drones and speed cameras

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has acquired body-worn cameras and other advanced technological gadgets as it steps up efforts to modernise crime prevention and traffic management in an increasingly complex security environment.

In addition to body cameras, the police have also procured drones and traffic enforcement cameras, which have already been deployed on various roads across the country.

Announcing the development during the relaunch of the ZRP Client Service Charter last week, Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba said accountability would be central to the new policing approach, declaring that no officer would be deployed without a name tag and a body-worn camera.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed on Tuesday that the new technology had been acquired, adding that final arrangements were being put in place to ensure full operationalisation.

"We have procured the cameras and they will be used with immediate effect. As we speak, the force numbers and name tags are being worked on to make sure that every police officer will have a name tag," Nyathi said.

"I can confirm that we have acquired speed cameras, which are already on our highways. If you look at Harare Central and Bulawayo Central, they have already started using drones."

Body-worn cameras are increasingly viewed as a critical tool in modern policing, helping to enhance transparency and accountability for both officers and the public. The devices provide objective audio-visual records of police interactions, strengthening evidence collection for prosecutions, reducing complaints against officers and helping to de-escalate confrontations. They are also used as training tools and are seen as key to building public trust.

Speed cameras, meanwhile, are widely regarded as an effective tool for monitoring driver behaviour and are scientifically proven to reduce road traffic accidents by at least 21 percent.

During his address at the Client Service Charter relaunch, Commissioner-General Mutamba said professionalism, respect, integrity and impartiality must define the police service.

"These must be the blood that runs through our veins," he said, noting that the police are the most visible arm of government, with citizens interacting with officers more frequently than with any other state institution.

He urged officers to be the face of justice rather than judgment, stressing that accountability would be enforced at all levels.

"Very soon, you will notice that no police officer will go out on deployment in a police uniform without wearing his or her name tag," Mutamba said.

"Any untoward behaviour by the police officer must be promptly reported to the authorities. That is why I am also putting my name tag here. The organisation expects increased public involvement in tackling police corruption."

He said the introduction of body-worn cameras marked a decisive shift towards integrity-driven policing.

"This is a decisive action that brings integrity out of the shadows, encouraging open, accountable and professional policing. The gadgets serve as both a deterrent to misconduct and a shield for honest officers," he said.

Commissioner-General Mutamba added that technology was now central to effective law enforcement, warning against overreliance on traditional policing methods.

"Building on this foundation, technology continues to reshape how we confront crime and manage traffic in an increasingly complex environment," he said.

He noted that the use of drones had already strengthened police operations by providing aerial surveillance and a clearer view of unfolding situations.

Over the years, the ZRP has increasingly embraced technology as it adapts to evolving crime patterns and the growing demands of modern law enforcement.