Matanga tells cops to be diligent

Published: 27 June 2019

ZIMBABWE Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has urged police officers who are attending the rebranding exercise to be diligent, engaging and understanding in executing their duties because the nation was watching them.

Matanga made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Commissioner (human resources), Mind Elliot Ngirandi during the official opening ceremony of the rebranding programme for junior officers at Ntabazinduna Police Depot for Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and CID provinces on Tuesday.

"Remember that this is a critical moment for all of you, because the eyes and ears of the nation are upon your next steps as you seek to discharge your duties. You must, therefore, embed yourselves in the people, engage them, understand their daily challenges and social ills … in view of the chasm and disconnect that had characterised our services with the needs of the majority of Zimbabweans from whom we derive our legitimacy,'' he said.

"The old villager at Zezani must have peace of mind knowing that his cattle inside the kraal are safe from rustlers. In the same breath, the middle-aged vendor in Chinotimba must also have confidence that her teenage girl can safely walk from school without fear that she might be raped or kidnapped."

Matanga indicated that the police should allow people to state their concerns and clearly articulate the role of the police in the preservation of law and order, on doing policing initiatives, and mechanisms available to members of the public for registering complaints against law enforcers.

Matanga said police retraining was an on-going exercise, with officers also set to be taught public relations skills to enable them to engage with the generality of the population.

He admitted that cops were under scrutiny from the public in the way they discharge their duties, hence the need for continuous retraining.

"Training and supervision of police officers shall be ongoing in order to ensure that strategies to rebrand and transform the organisation dovetails with government's national trajectory and above all people's expectations and needs," Matanga added.
- newsday

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