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Part of the 515 police officers who graduated in seven categories of study pose for a group photograph at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Staff College graduation ceremony in Harare last Friday

Talent Hwari Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) needs to train officers capable of detecting and neutralising cyber crimes, Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri has said. Speaking at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Staff College graduation ceremony in Harare last Friday, Comm-Gen Chihuri said the force cannot continue to be ignorant of the threat posed by cyber crimes. A total 515 graduates in seven categories of study received their certificates and diplomas at the ceremony.

“We need to be open-minded and inquisitive, explore and collaborate synchronously and asynchronously with peers, colleagues and academics to find solution to the cyber crime threat,” he said. He encouraged graduates not to rest on their laurels.

“Let me however, hasten top caution that, the acquisition of higher educational qualifications is not a passport to arrogance, monastic aloofness and indiscipline. There are those, who after graduating from college, show reluctance to perform certain tasks, exhibit cynicism are egocentric, disrespectful, and insubordinate to the very persons who facilitated their learning,” he said. Higher educational qualifications, the police chief said, continue to enable the ZRP to build its depth and to confidently tackle the challenges of complex modern-day transnational crime.

“When the criminal elements in our midst become complex, the organisation should equally raise its standards higher and beyond criminal reach. In that way, the generality of peace-loving citizens may relax in the knowledge that the police are equal to the task. The ZRP is strongly determined to maintain orderly, peaceful and secure environment through high academic standards on the part of its members,” he said.

According to Comm-Gen Chihuri, the force is sponsoring 742 police officers pursuing different courses at various institutions of higher learning and tertiary colleges locally and abroad. Police Staff College principal Senior Assistant Commissioner Elliot Mind Ngirandi said the 515 police officers that graduated at the ceremony were capable of thinking creatively.

“Interactive policy requires a very socially, intelligent and culturally aware officer. These officers have obtained professional qualifications with a bias to law enforcement are much more capable of solving problems, thinking creatively and exhibiting open-mindedness,” he said.