GOVERNMENT says it can no longer ignore the rapid expansion of Zimbabwe’s private security sector and the complex threats it has created, amid a surge in unregistered operators and armed robberies.
Speaking at the Security Association of Zimbabwe’s annual general meeting in Harare on Friday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe warned that technological advances and the sector’s growth had brought new risks that demand urgent regulation.
“The security environment has evolved significantly, giving rise to new and complex threats,” Kazembe said in a statement read on his behalf.
“Private security companies must understand and respect their boundaries while working collaboratively with State security agencies to avoid causing panic among citizens.”
Kazembe expressed concern over indiscipline among private security personnel and a rise in cash-in-transit robberies, many of which, he said, involved insider collusion. He urged firms to meet professional standards and work “hand-in-glove” with the ZRP.
Security Association of Zimbabwe president Trevor Jakachira said the association was moving to close loopholes that allowed unregistered companies to operate.
“Let me assure you that the net will soon close in on bogus security companies,” Jakachira said.
He added that poor staff welfare at some firms was undermining discipline and called on operators to prioritise employee welfare and fair pay.
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The industry says unregistered “backyard” firms are undercutting market rates, failing to pay staff, and evading tax.
This, the officials argue, puts licensed companies at a disadvantage and damages the sector’s reputation.
Institute of Chartered Loss Control and Private Security Management executive secretary Joshua Murire said the criterion for registering security companies was outdated.
“At the moment, a graduate with a degree in Security Management cannot register a security company if they lack a military background, yet they may be better qualified to manage such firms. This criterion has been overtaken by time,” Murire said.
He argued that restricting registration to those with military experience excluded qualified professionals and failed to reflect the sector’s modern needs.
The proliferation of unregistered companies has been linked to armed robberies involving high-powered weapons such as AK-47s, further eroding public confidence in the industry.
Licensed operators say the unchecked growth of the firms costs the fiscus revenue and undermines efforts to professionalise the sector.
