Police are on a reformation drive, give them a chance

The new dispensation, under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa ushered in a new era of collectiveness, unity and aspiration towards growing the Zimbabwean economy and upholding peace and security that the country boasts of. It also opened a new window of forgiveness, working together and positive engagement so that the country moves forward.

The calls for unity of purpose cuts across all divides, the security sector included. This is more so with the police force as they engage on a day to day basis with the public. Civil engagement between the police and citizens is crucial in ensuring that the country is a peaceful place to live in, which ultimately results in a peaceful environment for tourists and investors at large to come and invest in.

In the previous regime, the police had amassed a bad reputation, of being a mafia that was only after milking money from the ordinary citizens, instead of protecting the same people from criminal elements and all other forms of abuse from perpetrators.

As much as the police force has made headlines for all but the wrong reasons, it is high time that the nation lets bygones be bygones and allow the Police be and operate as a reformed service. The Police have been embarking on different projects to make sure that the public restores its trust in the force so that there is unity of purpose. Some of the commendable projects include the Harare Traffic Decongestion Unit, Harare province 24 hour Patrol Unit as well as installing security cameras at traffic lights.

There is need to instil back that sense of trust and reliance from citizens so that the police are able to deliver their duties without fear of being attacked or deterred by the public. The public has recently been in the habit of scorning members of the police whilst they are trying to engage in their duties. Some motorists no longer heed to officers directing traffic, supervising demonstrations or those engaging in other different activities.

The Police force has always been there to ensure that there is peace and security in the country for every citizen. As the country is set to hold its harmonised elections set for July this year, the police will be expected to monitor, making sure that there are no acts of political violence, intimidation and coercion of any sort against the electorate and that citizens air their view without fear.

It is the responsibility also of the police to make sure that they earnestly engage with the public to make sure that they earn back the respect they once had. Citizens need the police force so that law and order is maintained in the country and cooperation is needed at any given point. Day by day, the world is slowly becoming a violent and unsafe place to live in, and the country is not spared either.  It is imperative therefore, to have a police force that is upheld so that it protects citizens from such forms of ills.

Citizens should also take it upon themselves to be custodians of the law and should desist from attacking the police, regardless of their displeasure over the conduct of the police force. It is encouraged rather, for citizens to make reports if they are not happy with the service delivery so that issues are addressed.
 
The new dispensation promised to be a listening dispensation and citizens should take advantage of this and have their concerns heard through formal channels so that they are addressed accordingly without engaging in violent acts which in some cases have turned fatal. In the end, it is the country as a whole which loses by being identified as a country of lawlessness that beats up and kills members of the police force.