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The Zimbabwe Republic Police athletes led by veteran long distance runner, Trust Chidomwaya of Support Unit Fairbridge District emerged among the top five winners in the annual Coca-Cola ZITF 4 minute race.
The defending champion Chidomwaya found the going very tough this year as he surrendered the gold medal to Wellington Varewi of Black Rhinos who emerged this year’s winner after crossing the line at 4:12:64 although he also failed to complete the race in the required time of 4 minutes. For his effort, Varerwi received $800,00 and the coveted shield which for the past four years has been won by the police officers.
The 42 year old Chidomwaya who had complained of an injury that also gave him torrid time before he qualified for the race crossed the line at 4:14:70.He received $400,00.
On third position was also a police officer, Isaac Mpofu also of Support Unit Fairbridge District who crossed the line at 4:15:12. He also walked away with $350,00.
Chidomwaya and Mpofu were amongst the other 18 athletes who included other four members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who had made it in the semi finals by beating the qualifying time of 4:31 seconds to participate in the finals.
The other police officers who took part at this race were Elijah Mabhunu, Blessmore Chidziva and Tapiwa Manyanga who were also among the top 10. The other ZRP athlete was Ngonidzashe Ncube, who was outside the top 10.
Other athletes were drawn from various clubs around the country as well as other security forces.
The race was introduced in 1985 and since its inception there is only one athlete who has managed to beat the set time of four minutes. The record was set way back in 1995 when the now United States of America (USA) based Grey Mavhura completed the race in 3:58 sec while in 2015,Sydney Makuvaza of Ashanti came closer to beating the time after finishing at 4:01sec.
The Coca-cola Activation Brand Manager, Ms Vee Chibanda said they were happy to be associated with the event and said they were committed to supporting
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Beat patrol, a tried and tested policing strategy world over and whose philosophy is grounded on crime prevention, has now been launched in Harare Province.
“Walking the beat allows for greater observation and interaction with the people,” said Commissioner General of Police, Cde Tandabantu Godwin Matanga whilst launching the Patrol Unit at a colourful ceremony held recently at Chitungwiza town centre.
The beat system allows for greater accountability of manpower as commanders are able to check on police officers deployed in a particular area at any time. The police officers deployed on a beat usually follow a pre-defined route and timetable. If there is need for them to deviate from the route, due to other reasons, they have to notify their commander at the Control Base.
Police officers assigned to this Unit are easily identifiable with their new orange sleeves, worn with a general patrol riot gear.
The police chief said, it pained him to see private security companies taking a leading role in crime prevention while regular police officers are not visible in communities. He dispelled the notion that a beat patrol is a menial exercise done by the unschooled and unsophisticated police officers.
Ade Matanga noted that there was a tendency by some members assigned on patrol to disappear from their areas of assignment, or loiter around in their private
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Support Unit and Matebeleland North provinces were this year’s winners in Men and Women’s tennis teams, respectively, after dislodging 2017 champions - National Traffic - during the recently held 2018 Commissioner General of Police Sports Gala.
The competition was tough for National Traffic as they failed to collect a single medal in tennis during this year’s tournament.
In the men’s (Team Game) category, Support Unit’s Esau Khondowe partnered well with Elliot Ganyani in the final where they clinched gold. They went past Police General Headquarters team which collected a silver medal while Harare settled for bronze.
Khondowe was in no nonsense mood as he collected another gold medal in men singles final, beating Harare’s James Harrison Dhimba 6-3, 6-1. The 2017 champion, Mike Mukuna struggled for form during the whole tournament and managed to collect a bronze medal.
In the Women’s category, Prisca Chitambo and Ropafadzo Manyande triumphed over Maria Ndlovu and Clara Matenga to claim gold in the final team games. PGHQ took bronze. Rutendo Chikunya of PGHQ failed again to reclaim the gold medal that she won in 2016.
In the doubles, the combination of Prisca Chitambo and Ropafadzo Manyande was unassailable. They beat PGHQ which was represented by Chikunya and Eneres Taruvinga who settled for silver medal. Bronze went to MBCU who were represented by Catherine Kalosi and Tendai Chirinda.
It was Matebeland North again mixed doubles with now doubles specialist, Chitambo clinching her third gold after combining well with Tinashe Madekutsikwa to dismiss the pair of Mbizi and Mukuna. Bulawayo Province’s Martin Gwaronda and Ndlovu took bronze.
In the women legends finals it was Mbizi, Chitambo and Josephine Muchenje taking gold, silver and bronze respectively.
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police, 2018 Harmonised Elections Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza has reiterated His Excellency, President Emerson Mnangagwa’s call of ‘no to violence’ during this year’s elections.
Addressing the journalists at Police General Headquarters recently, SAC Makodza warned political parties to desist from engaging in political violence when they hold their primary and during the harmonised elections.
“Any form of violence, threats, harassment of voters or rival contenders will certainly be dealt with in terms of the country’s law. Adequate security provisions have been put in place by the police to ensure primary and harmonised elections are held in a peaceful environment,” said SAC Makodza.
He added that ZRP will lobby the judiciary to deny bail to all suspects of political motivated cases as a deterrent measure to would be perpetrators. Already the judiciary in liaison with police and other stakeholders has set up special courts throughout the country that will deal speedily with politically motivated crimes.
The Commissioner General of Police, on the other hand, has also set up teams of experienced investigators in all provinces to expedite the investigation and compilation of dockets for prosecution, in line with Section 133 (h) of the Electoral Act, Chapter 2:13.
President Mnangagwa is on record saying that this year’s elections shall be held in a peaceful, free, fair and transparent environment. As such, various institutions and countries, which include the European Union, United Nations, etc, have been allowed to come and observe Zimbabwe’s elections.
Some of the prohibited practices under the Electoral Act include; threatening or inflicting bodily injury to another person, compelling a person to attend or participate in a political rally, abduction, obstructing a political party or candidate to campaign in an area among others.
The Chief Staff officer Press & Public Relations, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba also told the journalists that there would be no sacred cows as police will not consider anyone’s political affiliation, colour, status, gender or standing in dealing with perpetrators of violence.
SAC Makodza urged the media to report objectively and factual all the events before, during and after the elections. In the previous elections, the media has often been polarised and accused of peddling hate speech and falsehoods.
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Officer Commanding Chivhu District, Chief Superintendent Stephen Baleni has hailed Beatrice Police Station’s Crime Consultative Committee (CCC) for its efforts towards crime reduction.
In an interview with The Outpost recently, Chief Superintendent Baleni said crime was on the rise in Nyatsime resettlement area which falls under Beatrice police station and assistance from Beatrice Triple C has helped contain it in the community.
“Crime has been on the rise in Nyatsime resettlement area where the population is increasing now and again. We are managing the situation with the assistance from Beatrice Triple C which is very active and always come aboard to support crime prevention activities. The Triple C is actually facilitating the resuscitation of the Beatrice station’s vehicle which requires maintenance, “said Chief Superintendent Baleni.
In a separate interview, Officer-In-Charge Beatrice Police Station, Inspector Matthew Hove said Beatrice as a farming community was facing a unique stocktheft phenomenon where thieves steal cattle in the area at night and debone the cattle and disappear with meat.
He said their efforts to fight the crime got a boost after they got a donation of a roadblock equipment from Beatrice Triple C late last year.
“We have been receiving cases of deboning in farms and most of the crimes were committed during the night. We are glad with the assistance we received from our local Triple C. They have donated modern roadblock equipment for night duties so as to help in conducting stop and checks roadblocks,” said Inspector Hove.
The growing population of Nyatsime resettlement area has been attributed as a reason in stock theft cases being recorded as the settlement is providing a ready market.
Vice Chairperson for Beatrice Triple C, Mr Percy Matongera said, as a committee they do appreciate efforts by their local police towards crime prevention and donations are the only way they can express their gratitude. He said their hope was that the equipment will help reduce criminal activities in the area.
“As CCC members, we do appreciate efforts by ZRP towards crime prevention. As a community we try by all means to assist our police and we can only do so through such donations. Crime activities are mostly prevalent at night, so we saw the standardised night roadblock equipment relevant,” said Mr Matongera.
