His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has called upon the people of Zimbabwe to respect police officers as they discharge their constitutional mandate.

Cde Mnangagwa made the call while he was addressing police officers and guests during a graduation parade of 617 police recruits at Morris Depot green square.

“I encourage the public at every level, to respect the authority of the police as borne out of the Constitution and critical partner to law enforcement and state security architecture. I equally encourage the public to be forthcoming in reporting crimes of all form and types at every level. In the Second Republic, there are no sacred cows. No one is above the law. Our laws will be enforced without fear or favour,” he said.

The call by President Mnangagwa comes at time the organisation is on a rigorous rebranding exercise following tarnished image as a result of the way police were conducting themselves. The public outcry on the police behaviour before the new dispensation resulted in the police losing public trust and respect.

President Mnangagwa also said his government was committed to equip the Zimbabwe Republic Police with modern equipment in order to enhance its capability in the fight against well coordinated criminal syndicates.

“Government recognises the need to urgently address the critical resource challenges in our police service in the discharge of their duties. Notably, we are aware of the current challenges being experienced by the ZRP for traffic law enforcement, primarily due to increasing volumes of vehicles on our roads across the country.

“Government is committed to support ZRP to acquire modern, advanced training, investigation and crime detecting and monitoring capability. We must modernize ZRP to be technologically savvy, responsive and robust in view of the well coordinated criminal syndicates who manipulate current trends,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has commended the ZRP for their professionalism in maintaining peace during this year’s polls and for raising the national flag high in peacekeeping mission operations.

“I wish to commend the Zimbabwe Republic Police for distinguishing itself wel before, during and after the Harmonised General Elections. Our police officers deployed to SADC, African Union and United Nations Peacekeeping missions and assignments also continue to acquit themselves with distinction, raising our national flag high,” he said.

The graduation parade was attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, then Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Rtd Chief Air Marshal Perence Shiri, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister for State Security in the President’s Office, Cde Owen Ncube, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Amon Murwira, Ministers of Provincial Affairs for Mashonald East, West, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cde Mike Madiro, Permenant Secretary of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cde Melusi Matshiya, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Rtd Major General Paradzayi Zimondi, Service Chiefs representatives and several senior government officials also attended the graduation parade.