Harare, (New Ziana) – A conference for senior Zimbabwe Republic Police officers opened in the capital on Tuesday, focusing on strategic policing to tackle rising crime rates and enhancing national security.
The conference provides a platform for discussions on the effectiveness of the ZRP’s strategic plan, Horizon 2025, launched four years ago with the aim of transforming the organization to meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police Strategic Plan, Horizon 2025, which was launched four years ago is now in its twilight zone,” said guest of honour Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe.
The conference underscored the importance of strategic policing measures to ensure peace and security, key components of the country’s aspiration to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
However, stakeholders expressed concerns about whether the plan has positively impacted service delivery, with some questioning the effectiveness of current policing strategies in combating rising crime.
“Have you reached the horizon which your eyes were fixed on in 2021?” asked Kazembe, emphasizing that the discussions should assess the organization’s effectiveness in fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
He noted citizens’ concerns about the increase in general crime, with police statistics showing that crime surged by 11 percent between January and August last year, while traffic accidents increased by 6 percent, resulting in the loss of 1 352 lives.
“We cannot afford to continue losing precious lives due to avoidable road carnage,” said Kazembe, highlighting the urgency for a robust traffic management system and enforcement of stricter penalties for reckless driving. In August this year, a total of 503 hit and run accidents were recorded and only 133 were detected.
Kazembe also noted a worrying trend of stock theft and high-profile armed robberies that have left communities apprehensive.
Another critical aspect discussed was the integration of technology into policing methods with the ZRP reportedly developing a Digital Transformation Strategy to bolster its operational efficiency, particularly in traffic management and crime detection.
Kazembe expressed government commitment to supporting the initiatives, citing the recent allocation of 500 new vehicles to the police force to enhance its capacity to respond to crime.
With the festive season approaching, Kazembe urged the police to remain vigilant to the rise in reckless driving and alcohol-related offenses, which typically spike during this time.
He informed the participants that the Ministry is prioritizing the review of the National Traffic Fines schedule, an initiative aimed at curbing law violations by motorists.
New Ziana
