HARARE City Council’s push to grant its municipal police arrest powers is a proposal that deserves careful scrutiny, not emotional approval.
While there is little doubt that the capital needs stronger enforcement of its by-laws, expanding the powers of an institution that is itself struggling with issues of professionalism, capacity and public confidence risks creating a bigger problem than the one it seeks to solve.
The argument in favour of granting municipal police arrest powers is not without merit. Harare has become increasingly difficult to govern.
Illegal vending has spread across virtually every major street in the central business district. Pirate taxis continue to operate openly, often within sight of council offices.
Pavements have been taken over by informal traders, sanitation by-laws are routinely ignored and public spaces have steadily deteriorated.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police cannot be expected to enforce every municipal by-law while simultaneously dealing with serious criminal offences.
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Empowering municipal police could, therefore, improve compliance, reduce response times and enable the council to enforce regulations more effectively.
Countries such as South Africa have municipal police services with powers to arrest for offences falling within their jurisdiction.
Those forces play an important role in traffic management, by-law enforcement and crime prevention.
Zimbabwe can certainly draw lessons from such models.
However, borrowing powers without borrowing the accountability systems that accompany them would be a grave mistake.
The first question Harare residents should ask is whether the municipal police have demonstrated that they can responsibly exercise the powers they already possess.
The answer is, unfortunately, far from convincing.
For years, municipal police have struggled to enforce even basic by-laws consistently.
Illegal vendors are removed today only to return tomorrow. Pirate taxis continue loading passengers at prohibited points despite countless operations. Informal settlements continue expanding.
Noise pollution, illegal dumping and unauthorised developments remain commonplace.
The problem has never been a complete lack of authority. It has often been inconsistent enforcement. Residents have also repeatedly raised concerns about selective application of council by-laws.
Small vendors are frequently targeted while politically connected operators appear to escape scrutiny.
Such perceptions, whether entirely accurate or not, erode public confidence in municipal enforcement.
Granting arrest powers to officers operating within such an environment could simply expand opportunities for abuse.
There is also the uncomfortable reality that corruption allegations have long haunted Harare City Council.
The council has featured prominently in the Auditor-General’s reports detailing financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities and governance failures.
A presidential commission of inquiry also exposed widespread maladministration within the local authority.
Against that background, citizens are entitled to ask whether expanding coercive powers without first addressing institutional weaknesses would merely create new avenues for extortion.
An officer who already has discretion to confiscate goods may tomorrow possess the authority to arrest. Without robust oversight, that power can easily become a bargaining chip. Arrest powers should never become another revenue stream through bribery.
Before Parliament or the responsible ministry considers granting these additional powers, Harare City Council must first put its own house in order.
Municipal police require far more rigorous professional training covering constitutional rights, criminal procedure, conflict de-escalation, evidence handling and ethical conduct.
Independent complaints mechanisms must be established so that residents can report abuse without fear of victimisation.
Body-worn cameras should become standard equipment during enforcement operations to protect both officers and members of the public.
Internal disciplinary systems must become swift, transparent and uncompromising.
The council should also publish regular performance reports detailing enforcement activities, complaints received, disciplinary actions taken and outcomes of investigations.
Transparency builds trust.
Technology must equally become part of the solution.
Digital ticketing, CCTV integration, vehicle tracking and electronic incident reporting would reduce opportunities for corruption while improving accountability.
Most importantly, enforcement alone cannot solve Harare’s urban challenges. Illegal vending is driven largely by unemployment and economic hardship. Arresting vendors without creating viable alternatives simply shifts the problem from one street to another.
The council must, therefore, combine stronger enforcement with properly serviced markets, affordable trading spaces and broader economic planning.
Harare undoubtedly requires a municipal police service capable of enforcing the law effectively. But authority without integrity is dangerous.
Power without accountability breeds abuse.
Before municipal police receive greater powers over residents, they must first demonstrate greater responsibility to residents.
Only then will expanded powers strengthen the rule of law rather than undermine it.