By Own Correspondent- Operational shortcomings laid bare by events such as the violent demonstrations that engulfed the nation in August 2018 and January 2019 forced police to implement recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Post-Election Violence, a top cop has said.

Commissioner General of Police Godwin Matanga said this in his speech officially opening the Rebranding Refresher Training Programme for Junior Officers at Morris Depot yesterday.

“We noted that key among the recommendations was the need for equipping the police with necessary skills and capacity for dealing with rioters,” said CGP Matanga.

“Police (have) to be further trained in order to be professional and non-partisan in the interests of national cohesion and the protection of all citizens and cooperate failings to be prevented in the future.

“Training and supervision of police officers shall be ongoing in order to ensure that all strategies to rebrand and transform the organization dovetail with government’s national trajectory.

“Let me say to the participants, your deeds as police officers must be responsive to the people’s aspirations.

“In the Second Republic, we need to entrench a new work ethic, servant leadership and ensure timeous response to matters that affect our communities,” said CGP Matanga.

He said economic turnaround and the mantra, Zimbabwe is Open for Business can only find traction if police rid communities of the fear of crime and match criminals blow for blow.

CGP urged officer in charge stations to have a greater responsibility that calls for sober mind, dedication and willingness to learn and serve the nation.

Participants have been drawn from duty uniform branch in Mashonaland East province, Criminal Investigations Department and Harare duty uniform branch.

The training, among others is covering crime management, management of discipline, public order management, corruption, customer care, community policing, cybercrime and intellectual crime.

CGP Matanga said the organisation had dedicated the year 2019 as the year of training running under the theme; ZRP Re-Branding to Restore Public Confidence for Peace and Economic Development in the Second Republic.