Police geared for Wednesday

Masvingo (New Ziana)- The Zimbabwe Republic Police is ready for the 2023 harmonised elections to be held on Wednesday with police reaction teams created in all provinces and districts to deal with cases of public violence.

National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the ZRP has deployed adequate officers and are ready to ensure a peaceful and credible environment.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Chief Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka, during a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) media engagement, he said: “The Government of Zimbabwe has availed the necessary
resources for the police to maintain law and order during the elections. These include vehicles, fuel, uniforms, communication equipment and stationery.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police assures the nation that it is certainly ready to ensure that the forthcoming elections set for August 23, 2023 are held in a free, fair, peaceful and credible environment.

“On behalf of the Commissioner General of Police, I wish the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Commissioners, management and a staff a safe, peaceful and crime- free environment as they observe the general elections.”

The security environment in the country is generally peaceful, he said, with the police recording isolated cases of political clashes most of which are related to campaign poster pasting.

Ass Com Nyathi said the Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga, had set up police reaction teams in all provinces and districts to deal with cases of public violence with senior officers of rank Assistant Commissioners at national level to the multi-party liaison committees co-ordinated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) to deal with electoral issues.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has made adequate safety arrangements for the protection of local and foreign observer missions, which were duly accredited by ZEC.

“We urge observers to make courtesy calls to police commanders at provincial and district level to get localised briefs on the security situation.

“Above all, we implore observers to be alert, move as a team as deployed and comply with all the country’s laws.
This will certainly assist the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the maintenance of law and order in the country,” he said.