ZRP should abide by the Constitution

ARMED police were at it again on Friday when they pounced on MDC Alliance activists who were gathered at Vova shopping centre in Nkayi, Matabeleland North province, waiting to meet their party leader Nelson Chamisa, who is on a meet-the-people campaign throughout the nation.

As a former police officer I feel that the force needs to intensify its training on human rights and respect of the law to avoid these unnecessary arbitrary arrests and dancing to the tune of the ruling party.

It seems the police force is only mandated to monitor the movement of the main opposition party instead of maintaining law, peace and order in the country.

What is exactly the role of the police in society?

The Zimbabwe Republic Police should be a people-oriented police service provider that seeks to maintain law and order towards the socio-economic development of the people and should operate in a free and fair manner without pandering to the whims of the ruling party like what we are witnessing today.

There is a document which was crafted with a view to entrench a results-based performance culture within the organisation and enhance police service delivery but its not being adhered to.

The police should continue to maintain law and order, protect and secure the lives and property of the people and to institute dynamic policing practices that engender effective prevention, investigation and detection of crime.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police was established by section 219(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides that:There is a Police Service which is responsible for detecting, investigating and preventing crime;

Preserving the internal security of Zimbabwe, protecting and securing the lives and property of the people, maintaining law and order then finally upholding the Constitution and enforcing the law without fear or favour.

It’s unfortunate that the police today has been captured by the elite and the ruling party. It has become the norm that only small fish are targeted for arrest.

There is still selective application of the law when Zanu PF is in the ring. Douglas Mwonzora is allowed to conduct rallies without any interference from the law enforcement agents.