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Herald Reporter
Police have denied media reports that they had reversed a decision to “retrain” police officers who had been convicted of misconduct. The Zimbabwe Republic Police last month resolved to retrain police officers convicted of misconduct, according to a circular issued at the Police General Headquarters. Offenders were to be retrained for three months.

In a statement, National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said no reversal of the Developmental Training Programme had been made by Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.

“The ZRP would like to dismiss the story which appeared in The Herald titled ‘Top cop reverses retraining decision’ as false.

“No reversal of the Developmental Training Programme has been effected by the Commissioner-General of Police as alleged in the story. This false story should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.” Chief Supt Nyathi appealed to the media to confirm and get stories on police activities from their Press and Public Relations Department. “They should not rely on unnamed ‘police sources’ and the social media platform which is being used to peddle falsehoods,” he said.

Despite Chief Supt Nyathi’s denial, The Herald has seen the order issued about the cancellation of the training programme through Circular Number 29/14 that was sent to all police stations with the reference: “Cancellation of circular 24/14 titled developmental course/retraining”.

Circular Number 29/14 reads, “It has been noted with concern that all members who are charged under the Police Act Chapter 10:11 were being sent for depot training. “This circular serves to inform you that members found wanting under the Police Act will only be sent to detention barracks as before and not to depot.

“This cancellation is immediate and those who were sent to depot will be returned to respective stations.”

The decision was meant to cancel a circular which was issued on October 6 by the Chief Staff Officer Human Resources at Police General Headquarters, Senior Assistant Commissioner Justice Chengeta, which directed the retraining of offenders. “All those convicted on disciplinary charges and sentenced to pay fines will immediately be referred back to Depot (Morris and Ntabazinduna) for developmental training.

“Those convicted and sentenced to detention will be transported and surrendered to Depot Chief Inspector by Support Unit Watchdog after serving their sentences,” read the cancelled circular.