Police crack down on social media uniform posts

Zimbabwe's police leadership has ordered officers to immediately remove any photos or videos of themselves in uniform from social media platforms, warning that failure to comply could result in disciplinary action.

The directive was issued by Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube through a nationwide signal (RDO BD14/26) sent to police stations across the country.

The order targets posts on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp, where officers have increasingly been sharing images and videos of themselves in uniform. According to the directive, such behaviour is considered a breach of police regulations and undermines the institution's integrity.

"Displaying oneself in police uniform on social media platforms without authorisation is totally unacceptable and breaches the police standing rules and regulations," Ncube stated.

He further warned that the practice damages public trust and the image of the police service, noting that the matter had been observed with concern at headquarters before the decision to act.

Officers have been instructed to remove any existing posts immediately, with no grace period. Provincial commanders have also been directed to ensure that the message is communicated across all ranks without delay.

The directive makes it clear that non-compliance will not be tolerated: disciplinary action will follow for those who fail to adhere to the order.

The move comes amid a growing trend of officers posting content in uniform online-ranging from casual photos to videos engaging with trending content-sometimes reaching wide audiences but raising concerns within the organisation about professionalism and discipline.

Ncube emphasized that the directive is a reminder of the importance of maintaining high professional standards and adhering to the police code of conduct.