Zimbabwe Republic Police

Key Roles

1. Enforcement of Law and Order
2. Maintaining peace and stability.
3. Apprehending Criminals
4. Investigating crime
5. Arresting criminals and suspects
6. Protecting state and individual Property
7. Educating the civilians about security^[2]

Structure

The police force operates under the directorship of a Commissioned General. The Commissioner General reports to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and other superior state officials. One of the long-serving Commissioners is Augustine Chihuri.

Ranks in their Order

1. Commissioner General of Police (CGP)
2. Deputy Commissioner General (DCG)
3. Commissioner (Comm)
4. Senior Assistant Commissioner
5. Assistant Commissioner (Ass Comm)
6. Chief Superintendent (C/Supt)
7. Superintendent (Supt)
8. Chief Inspector (C/Insp)
9. Chief Inspector (C/Insp)
10. Inspector (Insp)
11. Assistant Inspector (Ass Insp)
12. Sergeant Major (S/M)
13. Sergeant (Sgt)
14. Constable (Cst)^[4]

Depots

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is headquartered in Harare at the Police Headquarters popularly known as the PGHQ. It has numerous branches and outposts located all over the country in both urban and rural areas. Each station is supervised by an Officer in Charge.

Special Units

Anti Stock theft

The Anti-stock Theft Unit was established in November 2004, after realizing that there was a need to build the national herd in line with government's policy of reviving the national economy. Historically, livestock have been the source of an African man's pride. Cattle are a symbol of wealth; they provide draught power as well as generate the much needed foreign currency through beef exports.

Structure of Anti Stock Theft Unit

The unit is headed by a Senior Assistant Commissioner who is the National Co-coordinator Anti-stock theft based at Police General Headquarters. It has provincial and district teams that are headed by Provincial Anti-Stock Theft Coordinators and District Anti-Stock Theft Co-ordinators respectively who co-ordinate anti-stock theft activities in their respective areas. There are also station anti-stock theft teams at every station throughout the country who are responsible for investigating stock theft dockets at their respective stations.

Canine Unit

The ZRP Canine Section is responsible for breeding and training of police dogs. Over the years, police dogs have proved to be effective in crime prevention and investigation of crime scenes where they are mainly used for;

• Tracking
• Sniffing/Searching
• Crowd Control
• Preventive Patrols

The ZRP Canine section has made remarkable achievements in the fight against crime and has since been decentralized to strategic provincial/district headquarters.

Criminal Investigation Department

• CID Scenes of Crime

CID Scenes of Crime section is responsible for evidence gathering by scientifically examining crime scenes, gathering fingerprint evidence and linking suspects to crimes that would have been committed.

• CID Property

CID Property investigates and detects serious cases of Unlawful Entry, Theft and vandalism of property particularly from public utilities.

• Automated Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS)

This is a section responsible for electronic classification and vetting of fingerprints. The section also has an electronic database of all criminals that would have been fingerprinted. AFIS [Automated Fingerprint Identification System] was introduced by the Organisation for easy and quick fingerprint searching and vetting.

• CID Drugs

This is a specialised section that deals with cases involving drug abuse and trafficking. Drug abuse impacts negatively on individuals, society and the economy. Maintaining a healthy workforce ensures productivity in the country.

• CID Serious Frauds

CID Serious Frauds is a specialised section that deals with high profile cases of theft where there is an element of misrepresentation. The section has a cyber crime team to deal specifically with the scourge of computer-generated crimes. The professional handling and reduction of fraud cases builds public and investor confidence thereby enhancing economic growth.

• Vehicle Theft Squad

The vehicle Theft Squad is a specialised section that deals with cases of theft and robbery of motor vehicles. The section is also responsible for the clearing of motor vehicles for various purposes that include:

• Clearance for registration of motor vehicles
• Clearance for permanent export where a SARPCCO clearance certificate is issued.
• Temporary Clearance where vehicle is to be used outside the country temporarily.
• Clearance for vehicles imported from outside the SARPCCO region for the purposes of re-registration.
• Clearance for a change of ownership.

• CID Homicide

CID Homicide is a specialised section that deals with high profile cases of robbery and murder where life is threatened or lost through the use of lethal weapons.

• Interpol National Central Bureau (Interpol NCB)

The International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) popularly referred to as Interpol is an international police organisation that deals with transnational crime. The organisation has a membership of 191 countries and Zimbabwe is a member. Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB) which deals with transnational crimes. The other roles of NCB include:

• Exchange of information with other NCBs on criminal matters
• Extradition of fugitives
• Development of national criminal database
• Sharing information/intelligence on policing matters

The NCB has the following desks:

• Theft of motor vehicles
• Economic crimes
• Financial and high-tech crimes
• Public safety and terrorism
• Stock theft
• Drug trafficking
• Trafficking in human beings
• Fraudulent travel documents
• Environmental Crimes

Cycle Patrol Unit

The Cycle Patrol Unit was introduced in the ZRP in August 2003 and is the brainchild of the former Commissioner General of Police Augustine Chihuri. The main thrust behind the establishment of such a Unit was to reduce criminal activities in the cities and towns, streets, roads and avenues.

The Unit was commissioned by Augustine Chihuri at Morris Depot on the 14th of November 2003. The pioneer project commenced with 55 riders, five of whom were ladies and were deployed in Harare and Bulawayo.

• TRAINING

The joining of the Police Cycle Unit is on a voluntary basis.

Recruits undergoing initial police training are co-opted for Training and after passout are deployed to undertake Cycle Patrol Unit duties.

The ZRP is now a member of Zimbabwe Triathlon Association and Zimbabwe Cycling Association. These association give expert advise in terms of training, dress order and acquisition of appropriate cycles.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CYCLE SQUADS

• Patrol cities and to attend scenes.
• Maintain police presence.
• Arrest any person found committing or reasonably suspected to have committed an offence.
• Record statements and taking particulars of witnesses, the injured or deceased before handing over the case to the station whose area is being patrolled.
• Control road traffic and arrest traffic offenders.
• Taking all steps which on reasonable grounds appear to be necessary for preserving the peace.
• Prevent and detect crime.
• Building and maintaining public relations.
• Protect property from malicious injury.
• Stop and search any person suspected to be carrying stolen property and the seizure thereof.
• Enforce City By-Laws.
• Check houses under police supervision.

Forensics & Ballistics

The Forensic Science Laboratory Unit is housed at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Harare. This is a highly specialized technical unit of the Zimbabwe Republic Police whose function is to aid police investigations through analyzing exhibits and giving expert conclusive evidence on crime scenes.

The unit is manned by highly qualified forensic scientists, and has the following sub-sections;

• Biology Section

The Section analyses a wide range of biological evidence for example samples of blood, semen, saliva, sweat derived from cases of murder, rape, stock-theft, etc.

• Criminalistic Section

The Criminalistics area brings together a pool of scientists dealing with microscopy, tool marks, paints, glass, fibres and hairs analyses etc. The section also examines evidence of hair, fibres, gunshot residue, bullets, cartridges and metals.

• Chemistry Section

This section analyses minute to complex toxicological evidence (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and other poisons), arson accelerants, explosives and explosive ordinances, blood alcohol, controlled drugs etc.

• Document Examination Section

The Document Examination Section uses application of advanced analytical techniques in the analysis of hand-writing, signatures, indented impressions, alterations, erasures, obliterations, type writer, printed documents etc.

Mounted Unit

The Zimbabwe Republic Police Mounted Unit plays a critical role by conducting crime prevention patrols especially in remote and rough terrains where motor vehicles cannot maneouver their way. In urban centres, horses are also used in crowd control situations and ceremonial duties. Horses provide that added advantage of height and visibility to allow police riders to observe a wider area and this helps to deter crime.

Roles of Mounted Unit

• Mounted Patrols in crime prone areas.
• Mounted escorts during state occasions e.g Opening of Parliament
• Entertainment displays during Commissioner General of Police's Funfair, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Agricultural Shows
• Public order management e.g. sports activities.
• Suppress all forms of social disorder and commotion and maintain public confidence.

Sub Aqua Unit

The Sub-Aqua is a specialized police unit responsible for policing water bodies. The Unit aids crime investigations by retrieving bodies in cases of drowning and recovering exhibits concealed in water bodies. The Sub-Aqua Unit is located in two Support Unit districts, namely Chikurubi Depot in Harare and Fairbridge District in Bulawayo

Support Unit

The Support Unit is a branch within the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Its headquarters are in Chikurubi, Harare. It is commanded by an Officer of the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner, who is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and the operational efficiency of the Unit.

The Support Unit has four Districts i.e. Chikurubi Urban, Chikurubi Rural,Fairbridge (Bulawayo) Buchwa (Zvishavane) and Changadzi.

Tourism Unit

Tourism Police Unit was established in 2004 as a community policing initiative to proactively deal with crimes perpetrated against tourists. The Unit was first launched at Victoria Falls as a pilot project but it has since cascaded to other tourist resort centres like the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Chinhoyi Caves and Kariba Dam.

Tourism Police officers are also found in all the country's entry and exit points and identifiable through their reflective vests inscribed ZRP Tourism Police Unit.

National Traffic Branch

The National Traffic Branch is committed to providing a road policing service which embraces enforcement and education aimed at enhancing public safety

Victim Friendly Unit

The Victim Friendly Unit was established in 1996 primarily to proactively and reactively police crimes of sexual nature committed against women and children in a manner sensitive to the victim. The Unit aims to be supportive of victims and to make the environment conducive, private and friendly. It further aims to be empathetic, meticulous, professional, expeditious, and maintain confidentiality when handling victims of sexual abuse. Protection of victims who have suffered or who are at the risk of suffering serious harm and ensuring that all reasonable efforts are made to safely maintain children in their own homes once abuse or neglect has been discovered or disclosed is one of its aims.

The Unit has also joined hands with other stakeholders in the multi-sectoral management of child abuse. Various methods of giving information on abuse whilst remaining anonymous like suggestion boxes and hotlines are also being marketed. In addition, victims are encouraged to report their cases direct to Victim Friendly Unit Coordinators who are found at each and every station.

Victim Friendly Unit Co-coordinators are trained to deal with victims in a professional, private and confidential manner. The issue of respect is highly regarded. The Victim Friendly Unit offers counselling to victims of sexual abuse in conjunction with its other partners in the multi-sectoral approach.

The Victim Friendly Unit is a source of hope for vulnerable victims who for decades have been prohibited by social attitudes, insensitivity and lack of professional handling on the part of the police.

Since the establishment of the Unit, a remarkable increase has been realized in the reported number of cases of sexual abuse. This is attributable to the fact that members of the public have generally been conscientised and now discern what constitute an abuse and also another reason is that of the availability of good reporting system and the sensitivity of those receiving the reports

International Duties

Deployment of Staff to AFCON

In January 2015, the ZRP sent its forces to Equatorial Guinea in west Africa for the providing of VVIP protection at the Africa Cup of Nation games. This gesture was part of the requirements by all AFCON member states to sent some personnel who will assist in the successful hosting of the games. The ZRP has also carried a number of regional and international duties on the continent and these include the United Nations peace-keeping missions in countries such Sudan. The security contingent was sent off by the then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga at a ceremony held in Harare.

Events

The force has been criticised for alleged massive corruption. The traffic department, which collects fines from motorists, was been accused, from 2018 onwards, of milking local motorists as well as charging exorbitant fines to traffic offenders.

Tinashe Chitsunge's Killing, August 2023

On 3 August 2023, Tinashe Chitsunge, a CCC activist member, was fatally assaulted with stones in Glen Norah. It is alleged that his assault was conducted by members of Zanu PF youth, who had pursued them from Tanaka Grounds, a venue that the CCC had reserved for a rally.

Fadzayi Mahere. Spokesperson for the CCC said:

WE WANT ELECTIONS NOT WAR The Citizens’ Coalition for Change condemns the escalation of political violence driven by Zanu PF in most provinces as we approach the 23 August 2023 elections. Yesterday, Tinashe Chitsunge, a committed member of the CCC, was murdered in cold blood by suspected Zanu PF youths. Eyewitness accounts report that he was stoned repeatedly in the head before falling to his death on the tarmac in Glen View 7. Several of our members were badly injured during the violent attack. The matter was immediately reported to the police and details of key suspects were provided. The orgy of violence was instigated by Zanu PF members who were attempting to prevent a CCC rally for Churu Constituency from taking place. The Zanu PF group had been camping at Tanaka Grounds, the venue set for the rally, since about 6am yesterday morning. It is reported that, knowing that a CCC rally was going to take place, the Zanu PF group barricaded the entrance and set up a sound system playing music. They also started to play soccer at the venue. The occupation of the venue that we had booked was a clear act of provocation. Attempts were made to report the provocation to the police. However, the Zanu PF youths remained stationed there. As the time for the rally drew closer, our campaign teams were peacefully sharing campaign fliers and installing posters whereupon Zanu PF youths started to mob one of the campaign trucks. Video evidence shows the Zanu PF youths inciting violence, threatening our members and saying that the police could not touch them. The Zanu PF youths started throwing big boulders at our members and eventually struck Tinashe Chitsunge. According to reports of those present, they continued to attack him with stones after the fell to the ground. We have also received reports of politically motivated violence perpetrated by Zanu PF in Mutare Central, Nyanga, Chivi, Chipinge, Shurugwi among many others. A Zanu PF mob stoned President Nelson Chamisa’s convoy and barricaded roads as President Chamisa travelled in Manicaland yesterday as part of our campaign. We call for an immediate end to this clear pattern of political violence by Zanu PF against CCC. It is not a crime to wear yellow or to be a member of the CCC. No person should be killed for their politics. Citizens must be allowed to choose their leaders without violence or intimidation. We demand a thorough, non-partisan investigation into the murder of Tinashe Chitsunge. The perpetrators of this callous attack and the series of Zanu PF violence against CCC members must be brought to book by the institutions mandated to do so by our Constitution. We remain committed to peaceful resistance and will not stop. It is not enough for Zanu PF to pay lip service to peace at their rallies. They must stop committing violence against the CCC.

An electoral process soaked in the blood of innocent citizens is not the sort of electoral process the citizens of Zimbabwe deserve. We want elections not war.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) made an official statement disclosing the arrest of 10 individuals suspected of involvement in the murder case. ^[5]

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga then said, 17 August CCC activist Tinashe Chitsunge who was killed on 3 August 2023, was run over by the party’s truck. , Matanga said they are still waiting for the postmortem report. This conclusion runs is contrary to eyewitness accounts that indicated that Chitsunge was stoned to death by suspected Zanu PF activists. Fifteen people were arrested in connection with Chitsunge’s death, they were charged with public violence and were freed on bail. ^[6]

Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) criticised Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga over his remarks. CCC said Matanga’s remarks are “disheartening and regrettable.” The Commissioner’s lack of honesty is evident, as his officers have already arrested and issued fake charges against over 10 individuals directly involved in this atrocious crime. We demand an ethical and accountable police force, one that does not engage in propagating the agenda of any political party. ^[7]

References