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We report elsewhere in today’s paper that scores of senior police officers have been retired, in the biggest shake-up of the force since independence in 1980. This, indeed, signals the dawn of a new era under the trailblazing President Mnangagwa.

That such a massive shake-up has started with the police service is hardly surprising: Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police had lost public trust as they were associated with fleecing and harassing road users.

The retirement of the senior officers follows hard on the heels of Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri’s leave pending retirement. The shake-up leaves room for new brooms to sweep and introduce a new culture of policing at the Police General Headquarters.

It had become common fare for motorists and transport operators to put aside money to bribe police officers whenever they took to the road. Kombis laden with passengers were hounded with menacing spikes, endangering the lives of innocent passengers.

It had become so normal. That the mafia-like operation is disintegrating as its “dons” are being retired is cause for celebration. It is a new dispensation indeed, as police must now turn a new leaf towards serving the people and not themselves.

The police must stand guided by the Service Charter which enjoins the service to be “a people-oriented police service provider that seeks to maintain law and order towards the socio-economic development of the people”.

According to the Charter, ZRP’s core values include commitment, professionalism, accountability, transparency and integrity. It does not take much scrutiny to note that ZRP fared badly in these indices, effectively making members of the force virtual enemies of the people.

It did not come as a surprise when Zimbabweans heaved a collective sigh during last year’s “Operation Restore Legacy” undertaken by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), when the ZDF temporarily took control of some policing duties. The ZDF received widespread acclaim for the professional manner in which soldiers conducted these duties and effectively began superintending the police.

The retirement of the leadership that presided over such shenanigans truly paves way for professional and people-oriented police services. We hope other sectors stand put on notice. There is a new sheriff in town and if you are not one to serve the people, he will throw the book at you. You better ride into the sunset!