HARARE, Aug. 19 (NewsDay Live) — The promotion of women to senior positions within the Harare municipal police has marked a significant step toward gender equality in the division, the chairperson of the Harare City Council health, disaster risk management and public safety committee, Councillor Jane Bhingari, has said.
Bhingari made the remarks while officially opening a City of Harare Chamber Secretary Department capacitation workshop for senior officials in the Public Safety Division.
The workshop, organised by the Chamber Secretary’s Office under acting Chamber Secretary Ernest Mushava, was designed to integrate newly promoted superintendents and chief inspectors into their new roles and clarify their responsibilities and expectations.
Bhingari said the workshop formed part of a pragmatic roadmap to strengthen the Public Safety Division’s enforcement sections, including the Harare Metropolitan Police.
Harare City Council head of safety Obey Law Moyo also attended the workshop.
Moyo, who heads the municipal police, is a former assistant police commissioner and former deputy director of the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Commercial Crimes Unit.
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Bhingari said she was pleased by the number of women who had risen to senior positions within the municipal police.
“Let me hasten to say that I am pleased to note that there are eight women senior officers present here today,” she said.
“The division did not have such numbers back then when it was named Harare Metropolitan Police in 2006.”
She said the steady increase in women occupying senior positions demonstrated progress towards gender equality within the local authority.
“This is a significant step towards gender equality and bears testimony that City of Harare is now indeed an equal opportunity employer,” Bhingari said.
She said the latest promotions were also aimed at strengthening leadership and accountability within the division.
“Today is not just about new ranks on shoulders. It is about a new social contract with the people of Harare,” she said.
Bhingari said the division had previously relied heavily on acting appointments, with only four superintendents serving substantively while eight others were performing the duties in an acting capacity.
“In a pragmatic and deliberate move, the division has corrected that imbalance to improve morale and confidence in decision-making,” she said.
Eight officers have since been promoted to superintendent, bringing the number of substantive superintendents in post to 12.
A further 12 inspectors were promoted to chief inspector, bringing the number of chief inspectors in post to 15.
“I say congratulations to the Acting Chamber Secretary Ernest Mushava, the Head of Public Safety Obey Law Moyo and their team for this achievement,” Bhingari said.
She said the promotions meant command, accountability and decision-making would now rest with officers substantively appointed to lead the division.