Consensus has built up in the media with both the public and private Press condemning the police’s handling of the death of Neil Tanatsa Mutyora, the just under-four-years old Rugare boy knocked down by a commuter omnibus a week ago.
NewsDay Editorial
Whereas the public is aware of the unruly behaviour of the kombi drivers and how they continue to endanger the lives of not only their passengers but also pedestrians, the general public was of the belief that the police’s moral blameworthiness was very high.
The problem of errant kombi drivers has been with us for a long time now. The police cannot give us the impression that they have failed to contain the kombi drivers’ wayward behaviour for so long.
It has been argued that this is because most kombis plying city routes are owned by senior police officers. It is also a public secret that police details in the traffic section are reluctant to enforce the law because the kombis are a cash cow. They are known to solicit bribes from the drivers.
But our police force is recognised the world over as one of the best as far as peacekeeping duties are concerned. Often we see Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri on our television screens either dispatching or welcoming back contingents of officers going or returning from peacekeeping missions. Whenever he does that, his pride in the force cannot be mistaken. The nation too is proud of that aspect of our police.
But the waywardness of the traffic element in the force is something to worry about and Chihuri must take responsibility for the rotten apple in the force too. We cannot have a commissioner who prides himself in the good the police does but refuses to take responsibility when the bad surfaces.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The public relations disaster that played out in the wake of the unnecessary slaying of Tanatsa is a shame on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and its face, Charity Charamba, brought untold shame to the police. Not only did she refuse to show compassion over the death of the lad but she went on to vent spleen on everyone especially the press which she accused of bringing the force into disrepute.
Her maladroit handling of the death shamed the ZRP beyond measure. One only has to read the interview with Tichaona Zindoga in The Herald on Saturday to see the extent to which she has demeaned the ZRP.
And it seems, the ZRP is following through this PR debacle by going after the journalist who reported the story. On Friday, the Law and Order Section of the ZRP summoned the editor of NewsDay and the reporter who covered the story to their offices.
They were asked to visit the Central Police Station on Saturday obviously so they could be locked up over the weekend. Such kind of vindictiveness is uncalled for and unhelpful to the image of the police.
There have been several calls from various quarters for the police force to be reformed. This should be taken seriously now beginning with the public relations department.
