Masvingo City Council to beef up police force

MASVINGO City Council has resolved to beef up its municipal police department by hiring more officers as it battles to deal with a spike in illegal activities in the central business district, mainly.

Mayor Councilor Hubert Fidze yesterday said the city fathers passed a resolution recently to beef up its security department and curb the continued violation of the city’s by- laws.

He said council’s municipal police department was operating with 51 officers against a recommended staff compliment of 130 officers.

“We do not have enough manpower in our security department and we have resolved to hire seven more officers in the near future. We are unable to control activities like illegal vending and touting due to a shortage of officers,” said Councillor Fidze.

“We are currently receiving assistance in enforcing by- laws from the ZRP ( Zimbabwe Republic Police), and on some occasions, from the army. We are grateful for the work that our officers are doing, but they have too much on their hands to be able to completely stem illegal vending and proliferation of pirate taxis.”

He said plans were underway for the local authority to buy eight pick- up vehicles for its municipal police department to improve mobility.

Councillor Fidze said besides the municipal police department, the firefighting section was also severely understaffed.