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New police officers warned
3 hrs ago |
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The Commissioner-General of Police, Stephen Mutamba, has urged newly graduated police officers to uphold integrity and reject corruption, warning that the vice remains one of the most serious threats facing law enforcement.
Speaking at a pass-out parade of 797 officers at Mkushi Camp in Harare, Mutamba said corruption undermines public trust and weakens the effectiveness of the police service.
"The organisation does not tolerate corruption and society abhors it," he said. "The temptation can be high, but you must stay away from this contamination."
The 797 graduates - comprising 242 women and 555 men - completed a two-year Diploma in Police Studies programme. The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, service chiefs and retired police leaders, including former Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
Mutamba said modern policing requires officers to adapt to increasingly complex and technology-driven forms of crime.
"Subjects such as forensic investigation, criminal law, the law of evidence and cybercrime investigation have become central pillars of modern law enforcement," he said.
He emphasised that officers must now embrace intelligence-led and cyber-focused policing approaches to effectively combat evolving criminal activity.
The police chief stressed that failure to perform duties at individual level could have broader consequences for public safety and national development.
"A police officer who ignores traffic violations may later confront the tragic loss of innocent lives," he said, adding that delayed responses to crime scenes often result in lost evidence and weakened cases.
Mutamba urged the new recruits to remain disciplined and guided by the Police Code of Ethics, warning that misconduct could damage both individual careers and the reputation of the institution.
He described corruption as a "cancer" that erodes institutional integrity and destroys public confidence in the justice system.
"As seasoned officers, you must be aware of the risks that await you in the field," he said. "Corruption is one such danger. My counsel is simple: stay away from it."
The Commissioner-General said ethical policing is essential to achieving national development goals under Vision 2030, reinforcing the role of the police as custodians of peace and security.
Speaking at a pass-out parade of 797 officers at Mkushi Camp in Harare, Mutamba said corruption undermines public trust and weakens the effectiveness of the police service.
"The organisation does not tolerate corruption and society abhors it," he said. "The temptation can be high, but you must stay away from this contamination."
The 797 graduates - comprising 242 women and 555 men - completed a two-year Diploma in Police Studies programme. The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, service chiefs and retired police leaders, including former Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
Mutamba said modern policing requires officers to adapt to increasingly complex and technology-driven forms of crime.
"Subjects such as forensic investigation, criminal law, the law of evidence and cybercrime investigation have become central pillars of modern law enforcement," he said.
The police chief stressed that failure to perform duties at individual level could have broader consequences for public safety and national development.
"A police officer who ignores traffic violations may later confront the tragic loss of innocent lives," he said, adding that delayed responses to crime scenes often result in lost evidence and weakened cases.
Mutamba urged the new recruits to remain disciplined and guided by the Police Code of Ethics, warning that misconduct could damage both individual careers and the reputation of the institution.
He described corruption as a "cancer" that erodes institutional integrity and destroys public confidence in the justice system.
"As seasoned officers, you must be aware of the risks that await you in the field," he said. "Corruption is one such danger. My counsel is simple: stay away from it."
The Commissioner-General said ethical policing is essential to achieving national development goals under Vision 2030, reinforcing the role of the police as custodians of peace and security.
Source - The Herald
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