Police officers in Zimbabwe can no longer eat or smoke in public as part of new measures being instituted to reform the police service.
The Zimbabwe police service has suffered public ridicule since the exit of Robert Mugabe.
During the military takeover, some of the police officers were arrested and reportedly tortured over corruption allegations according to local media.
The country’s newly appointed police commissioner, General Godwin Matanga is hoping to restore some pride to the service and gain the trust of the public ahead of this year’s general elections.
State-owned Herald newspaper reported that Matanga has announced a ban on police walking around with hands in their pockets.
Police officers in Zimbabwe would have to always wear their uniform for visibility purposes and also avoid spending time on social media on their mobile phones.
Matanga told senior police officers in Harare last week that police officers must avoid engaging in corruption and extortion.
Photo: The herald
He said “Acts of walking with hands in pockets, carrying bags while in police in uniform are now the norm rather than exception”.
“Some members unashamedly spend most of their time swiping on their phones even in circumstances where a high level of alertness is demanded. That has to be corrected. We cannot condone deeds that debase our organisation like that. The onus is, therefore, upon all of us to collectively take bold steps that put a stop to such disgusting practices which apparently are alien to our police discipline. We certainly cannot continue normalising the abnormal,” Matanga added.
Source: Africafeeds.com
