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Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter

All election observers to the August 2023 harmonised elections were unanimous in commending the professionalism exhibited by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.

He said police officers had also not been shy to exhibit the highest level of professionalism that has gained them recognition locally and internationally.

Minister Kazembe said this while addressing officers from the ZRP, Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at Police Staff College on Friday.

He applauded the commitment by the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure that police officers are intellectually equipped to deliver policing services to the people.

“Indeed, the synergies created by this college with other institutions of higher learning have culminated in the embodiment of requisite professional attributes in our police officers.

“It is equally pleasing to note that our men and women in uniform have not been shy to exhibit the highest level of professionalism that has gained them recognition locally and abroad. May I therefore take this opportunity to once again, applaud all police officers for the way you handled the August 2023 harmonised elections.

“It is noteworthy to realise that all observers were unanimous on the appreciable level of professionalism you exhibited. It is my considered view that it is through the contribution of such institutions as the Police Staff College that we have police officers of such a calibre,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said policing by its very nature, requires men and women who are knowledgeable of the laws of the land, understand how society functions and have an appreciation of the national objectives and goals.

“In this regard, the human capital development that is facilitated by this institution is critical in ensuring that we have an intellectually equipped police officer. This is key as it ensures that our law enforcement is well informed with policing trends in the ever-mutating global policing terrain that has morphed into a global village.

“I am therefore proud to realise that the Police Staff College has gone a step further by taking note of the importance of inter-agency approach to maintaining law and order. Without doubt, the fact that other sister security agencies also have members graduating here today, is a clear demonstration that the country’s security architecture is conscious of the need to operate at the same level and pull in one direction,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said the synergies that are built among the security men and women during the learning process are priceless and critical in ensuring that their national security objectives are achieved.

“Furthermore, the collection of programmes that these graduands undertook, speaks to the national desires of creating a conducive environment for the socio-economic development of our country.

“These include: Certificate in Law and Policing; Certificate in Traffic Management; Certificate in Training Methods, Diploma in Cyber Security Management; Diploma in Law, and Diploma in Public Relations, among others,” he said.

He said the training of security personnel in cyber security was not just ideal, but a well thought-out approach given the growth and far reaching impact that the cyber space has made on society.

“It is therefore imperative that all police officers are cyber conscious because the world is fast gravitating towards a situation where policing is desperately needed in this virtual space.

“The exponential growth and ever growing sophistry of technology has seen increased use of technology in our daily lives.

“In the same breadth, a lot of criminal activity has now migrated to the cyber space where perpetrators are taking advantage of heightened human presence on the cyberspace and the sophistry thereof. The need for such skills in the law enforcement agencies can no longer be wished away as it has become a prerequisite,” Minister Kazembe said.

He said he was also pleased to realise that police continues to be relentless in elevating their human capital development efforts.

“The fact that the organisation is planning to have a university is not only appreciable, but must be fully supported as the fruits of education are already there for all to see. May I therefore pledge government’s support towards such a noble development.

“It is my hope that the organisation will also get all the needed support from the already well established institutions such as the University of Zimbabwe and Bindura University of Science Education.

“I pledge to play my part by canvassing for the much needed support through my counterpart in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Technology and Innovation. It is my shared hope that the establishment of this university will contribute towards the enhancement of policing knowledge among our police officers.

“This is cardinal in enhancing the overall attainment of our national goals on Human Capital Development as pronounced in the National Development Strategy One (NDS-1). We must realise that, national development is premised on a conducive environment that can be enabled by effective and efficient policing,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said he was also happy with the ZRP’s resolve to ensure that the girl child was empowered and given all the opportunities to reach their full potential.

“This is cardinal not only to the country’s development agenda as globally, there is consensus that all developmental efforts have to include women as key players. This is the essence of the global Sustainable Development Goal Number Five. (SDG-5).

“May I therefore challenge female security personnel to continue to take up responsibilities even in challenging situations in order to demystify the gender stereotypes that our society is cultured to tolerate,” he said.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister Chido Sanyatwe, permanent secretary Ambassador Raphael Faranisi, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo, Bindura University of Science Education Professor Eddie Mwenje, senior officers from the ZNA, Air Force of Zimbabwe, ZPCS, Zimra and other senior Government officials.