Zimbabwe Republic Police

zrp

Commissioner-General of Police, Tandabantu Godwin Matanga (seated centre) poses for a group photo with

INTERPOL Regional Bureau Harare staff members, officers from the INTERPOL Secretariat

and workshop participants from the African Region

INTERPOL Regional Bureau Harare hosts VITFA training

The INTERPOL Regional Bureau Harare was recently privileged to host the first ever Victim Identification Task Force Africa (VITFA) training workshop meant to equip police officers in the continent with skills to identify victims and perpetrators of crimes committed against children.

The 5-day workshop held at INTERPOL Region Bureau in Harare, drew participants from 10 countries from the African continent. The workshop was facilitated by officers from INTERPOL’s Secretariat based in Leon, France. The aim of the workshop was to capacitate police officers to identify offenders, rescue young victims of violence, as well as to block any material that perpetuates child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Officially opening the workshop, the Commissioner General of Police, Tandabantu Godwin Matanga said crimes of child abuse and exploitation have grown up rapidly owing to the growth of the internet access.

“Given this challenge, an internationally coordinated and targeted training has become essential as it enhances the law enforcement capabilities in different jurisdictions to deal with this despicable phenomenon,” said Commissioner-General Matanga.

He added that it was disheartening to note that criminals were taking advantage of the children’s presence on the internet to prey on them, at a time when their presence online is now also a necessity.

Head of INTERPOL RB Harare, Mr Sello Moerane, who was represented by the Regional Specialised Officer (RSO) Phiwa Nhlengetfwa, welcomed the training saying, it complements the INTERPOL Bureau’s activities on forensic science.

“Some member states within SARPCCO region have set up dedicated social media monitoring units, whose task is to identify, flag and report suspicious and criminal behaviour to relevant crime desks. Such an approach is among the best practices, I hope to see this shared and implemented in our countries,” he said.

He said many children are being lured by criminals in the social media and website pages where they are recruited, groomed, exploited and trafficked by scammers who use fake online accounts.

“The availability of cheap but high quality digital cameras and mobile phones has made the production process of Child Exploitation Materials (CEM) and memorializing physical offending easier than it has ever been. The pedophiles collect such offensive materials for many reasons, which include sexual gratification, grooming, blackmail and trade among others,“ he added.

As a contingency measure, INTERPOL has developed an International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database that member states can use to identify and ensure wherever the offenders are, they can be arrested and face justice.

ZRP challenged to intensify fight against drugs

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has been challenged to enhance its capacity in policing by infusing research based strategies and technology to the fight against crime.

Speaking at the 39^th Police Staff College Graduation Ceremony held in Harare recently, then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Aaron Nhepera urged the ZRP to engage other stakeholders and up its tempo in fighting the menace of drug and substance abuse.

Mr Nhepera said it was disturbing to note that drug and substance abuse is now entrenched in all communities throughout the country. He reminded the police officers to work together with various groups in society in order to identify and prevent all the nefarious activities affecting members of the society, especially the youths.

“Today’s society continues to spawn more, new and different challenges to the policing environment. Currently, the country is grappling with the scourge of drug and substance abuse that is threatening to impair whole generations. May I take this opportunity to call upon the police and all relevant stakeholders to gird up their loins in an effort to eradicate the malady of drug and substance abuse,” he said.

Mr Nhepera applauded the Zimbabwe Republic Police for attaching value to its human capital development, saying it was encouraging to note that the organisation continues to imbue its police officers with knowledge and preparing them with skills to deal with modern criminal syndicates.

The ZRP Staff College churned out a total of three hundred and eighty-nine (389) graduands who had completed various Certificates and Diploma programmes.

“Today’s graduation, ladies and gentlemen, represents a milestone towards ensuring that our men and women in uniform are better prepared to understand the peace and security challenges faced by our nation to amass capacity and proffer effective intervention to investigate those challenges.

Addressing graduates at the same occasion, Professor Chipo Dyanda from the University of Zimbabwe pledged the support and continued supervision of the ZRP Staff College programmes.

Professor Dyanda challenged the college to introduce more relevant programmes that will eventually produce graduates who can effectively create a safe and secure environment for businesses and society to thrive.

The officers were awarded with Certificates in Training Methods, Law and Policing, Traffic Management, as well as Diplomas in Adult Education, Business Management and Law.

Fifteen of the graduates were members seconded by the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

Some of the 2022 ZRP Staff College graduands

ZRP PRESS STATEMENT 18^TH NOVEMBER 2022

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION IN RELATION TO A MURDER CASE WHICH OCCURRED IN GLEN NORAH B, HARARE

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information which may assist in investigating a murder case which occurred at Total Service Station in Glen Norah B, Harare, on 09^th April 2022 at around 2030 hours, where unknown suspects allegedly assaulted Chrispen Kahari (42), to death, following a dispute after a minor road traffic accident.

The victim, Chrispen Kahari, was a passenger in a Mitsubishi L200 vehicle, registration number AAD9608 when the car got involved in a minor road traffic accident with an unidentified vehicle at the shopping centre. The vehicle occupants, who were in the other car, then attacked the victim and the Mitsubishi L200 driver.

The victim, who had sustained severe injuries, managed to escape to his home, where he later succumbed to the injuries on 10^th April 2022.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may assist in identifying a male adult, approximately 31 years old, who died after he had been hit by an unknown motorist at Corner, E.D Mnangagwa Road and Hebert Chitepo Road on 15^thSeptember 2022 at around 2100 hours.

The victim was wearing a blue t-shirt, navy blue trousers and brown sandals.

The victim’s body is at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

Anyone with information should contact Harare Operations on 0242 748836, the National Complaints Desk on (242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197.

(NYATHI. P.) Assistant Commissioner

Senior Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations)

to the Commissioner General of Police

Police General Headquarters

Commissioner-General of Police, Tandabantu Godwin Matanga (left) shakes hands with Acting Director of ZCHPC Dr. Paul Sambo

after signing of the MOU. Looking on is Chief Superintendent Tsitsi Paradzayi

ZRP collaborates with ZCHPC in forensic science investigations

As the government continues to encourage public-private partnerships, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has partnered a local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) organisation - the Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing (ZCHPC) – to collaborate in forensic science investigations.

Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Harare, Commissioner-General of Police Tandabantu Godwin Matanga expressed confidence that such collaborations will undoubtedly yield positive results in the fight against the scourge of cybercrimes.

“I am pleased to officiate at this momentous occasion where we are witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing (ZCHPC). The objective of the MoU is to strengthen collaboration particularly in the realm of Smart Policing initiatives and Information Communication Technologies that empower policing,” said Commissioner- General Matanga.

Presenting his organisation’s expectations, Acting Director of the Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing, Dr Paul Sambo said the thrust of the partnership would be to capacitate ZRP to improve on its service delivery through smart policing using high computer processors, as well as providing technical expertise in science and technology.

“The Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing is committed to working and realising the successful implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with ZRP. Our MoU targets areas in forensic sciences, such as Fingerprint Identification Systems, setting up of Forensic DNA Analysis systems, development of ZRP application systems and harmonising these systems to provide a cutting-edge operational service delivery,” he said.

It is envisaged that through this partnership, ZRP will enhance its smart policing initiatives to increase on crime detection and prevention. Policing dynamics across the global village has changed with the passage of time with criminal syndicates becoming more and more sophisticated through the use of technology, thereby posing serious threat to the business environment.

Hence, the lifeline extended to ZRP by ZCHPC will culminate in police officers obtaining modern professional forensic science investigative skills, and heighten the fight against money laundering, fraud, cybercrime and other related offences.

ZRP PRESS STATEMENT 23^RD NOVEMBER 2022

UPDATE ON FOUR BODIES FOUND NEAR THE 174 KM PEG ALONG HARARE-NYAMAPANDA ROAD, SUSWE PASS, MUDZI, MUTOKO

Investigations conducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police so far have established that four male adults who were found dead on 22^nd November 2022 in a bushy area near the 174 km peg along Harare-Nyamapanda Road, Suswe Pass, Mudzi, are suspected foreigners who were being trafficked to another country. The victims are suspected to have suffocated in the container they were travelling in and the bodies were dumped in the area.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has engaged INTERPOL for further investigations in terms of the victim’s identification and for the law to take its course on possible suspects.

Meanwhile, on 21^st November 2022, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics, Harare acted on received information and arrested Honest Shumba (33), Allen Shumba (37) and a foreign national, Stanley Eze (45) at a lodge along David Morgan Crescent, Avondale in connection with unlawful dealing in cocaine.

The suspects were found in possession of 105 grammes of cocaine with a street value of ZWL$ 5 880 000.00.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police applauds the public for supplying useful information to the Police.

Above all, the Police warns the public involved in human trafficking and smuggling of dangerous drugs from other countries that they will be arrested and the law will take its course without fear or favour.

(NYATHI. P) Assistant Commissioner

Senior Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations)

to the Commissioner General of Police

Police General Headquarters