HARARE
–
The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
has,
“with
immediate
effect”,
banned
its
officers
from
using
cell
phones
whilst
on
duty.
A
leaked
memo
sent
to
all
stations
in
Masvingo
Central
by
the
Officer
Commanding
Masvingo
Central
District
31
October
2024
seeks
to
reinforce
what
appears
to
have
been
earlier
orders
to
members
by
the
police
provincial
commander
in
Masvingo
on
28
October
2024
for
members
to
abandon
their
private
communication
gadgets
while
on
duty.
“Despite
numerous
instructions
given
forbidding
use
of
cell
phones
whilst
on
duty
by
members
of
the
Police
Service,
commanders
are
not
enforcing
this,”
reads
the
memo.
“With
immediate
effect,
no
member
is
allowed
to
be
in
possession
of
a
cell
phone
whilst
on
duty.
Cell
phones
should
only
be
used
during
break
and
lunch
times.”
Officers
in
charge
of
police
stations
have
been
ordered
to
enforce
the
controversial
order
with
threats
issued
against
those
who
do
not
comply.
“Once
a
member
is
found
with
a
cell
phone
whilst
on
duty,
the
Officer
in-
Charge
of
the
said
member
will
be
put
to
task,”
further
reads
the
memo.
“Upon
commencement
of
duty,
the
Officer
in-Charge
should
take
possession
of
the
cell
phones
and
lock
them
in
the
safe
or
cabinet.
“All
stations
standard
operation
procedures
should
contain
a
clause
governing
the
use
of
cell
phones
whilst
on
duty
and
members
should
acknowledge
having
read
and
understood
the
SOPs.”
Reasons
influencing
the
ban
were
not
given
in
the
memo,
but
it
is
widely
believed
this
could
be
linked
to
attempts
by
the
ZRP
to
try
and
deter
rampant
acts
of
corruption
by
its
officers.
In
a
weekend
statement,
police
confirmed
two
traffic
enforcement
officers
in
Harare
had
been
detained
after
a
viral
social
media
video
exposed
them
taking
bribes
from
public
transport
vehicles
near
the
Mabvuku
turn-off
along
Harare-Mutare
Road.
Police
spokesperson
Paul
Nyathi
described
Sergeant
Chifamba
and
Constable
Gunzva
as
“bad
apples
who
do
not
deserve
to
be
serving
in
the
police
service”.