Senior police officers urged to provide exemplary leadership, discipline

Harare (New Ziana) -Senior members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police should lead by example and maintain discipline so that they can be role models to their subordinates.

Commissioner General of Police Godwin Matanga said this on Friday during a ceremony to confer ranks to newly promoted senior police officers at the Mukushi Depot, formerly Morris Depot in the capital.

A total of 18 officers were promoted to the rank of Superintendent and will be deployed to various police stations throughout the country.

Matanga said the elevation of the officers was not a passport to settling personal scores with those below them, or an opportunity to abuse authority and organisational resources for self-enrichment.

“As we celebrate your elevation, it is also an opportunity for me to give you counsel and prepare you for the new and equally important roles that you are now set to take. The fact that you have been elevated to become senior officers makes the organisational expectations even higher,” he said.

“This is because you will have the new responsibility of assisting Officers Commanding Districts, under whom most of you shall be deployed, in superintending operational stations and overseeing the organizational disciplinary processes. Such highly regarded work comes with the demand for exemplary leadership, unquestionable patriotism as well as being an embodiment of discipline and ethical conduct,” added Matanga.

He said the promotion was also an opportunity for the officers to reciprocate the trust and confidence that the organisation and government has reposed on them by upholding the virtues of professionalism, transparency and fairness.

Matanga challenged the officers to ensure that the organizational major building block of discipline was not only maintained but should be enforced among all members at all times.

“Let it not escape your minds that you are duty-bound to deal decisively with all acts that have an adverse impact on organisational performance. As such, you must exhibit a high level of discipline in order to become role models of your subordinates.

“As we laud you for being recognized by the organization, it is also a time you must realise that it is not only the Zimbabwe Republic Police that has elevated you, but the whole nation of Zimbabwe has bestowed upon you amplified responsibilities to oversee the peace and security of our nation,” he said.

He praised the police force for the diligent work and discipline that they exhibited during the harmonized elections and said their professional conduct ensured a free and peaceful environment conducive for the polls.

“As we continue to build upon this milestone achievement, I urge you to remain vigilant and ensure that the post-election environment remains peaceful. You must also be wary of certain elements within our society who are harbouring political ambitions and interests so unbridled that they are manifestly hell-bent on sowing seeds of division among the populace and affect the current tranquil environment,” said Commissioner Matanga, adding that all elements who engage in activities that border on criminality calculated to throw the country into anarchy must be dealt with decisively.

He noted that the promoted officers parade was made up of a proportional number of male and female police officers, which he said was clear testimony of the value that the ZRP places on gender equality.

“I am aware that 33 percent of those promoted to Superintendent are women. This is indeed commendable as it ensures equal job opportunities. May I therefore challenge all female senior officers who have been promoted to take this opportunity to demonstrate ability.”

New Ziana