Deputy Police Commissioner-General (Human Resources) Mind Ngirandi revealed yesterday that the newly acquired expensive anti riot gear and training are a fulfilment of recommendations made by a Commission of Inquiry led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe late last year.

Evidently in fear of possible civil unrest likely to erupt in the country as a result of an unexpected reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar and government continuously fails to address the economic situation, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has started equipping police and training police officers to deal heavy handedly with rioters.

Deputy Police Commissioner-General (Human Resources) Mind Ngirandi revealed yesterday that the newly acquired expensive anti riot gear and training are a fulfilment of recommendations made by a Commission of Inquiry led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe late last year.

The seven-member Commission of Inquiry was appointed by President Mnangagwa last year to look into post-election violence that broke out in Harare resulting in the death of six people.

Officially opening the 6th Rebranding and Refresher Training Programme for junior officers at Ntabazinduna Training Depot in Matabeleland North, Deputy Commissioner-General Ngirandi revealed that police are now being equipped to be able to deal with any future riots.

The week-long training is being attended by 68 junior officers who hold ranks of Inspector, Chief Inspector and CID officers from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.

“In the same vein we have already begun implementing recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 2018 post-election violence, which was chaired by His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe, which include equipping the police with necessary skills and capacity for dealing with rioters and further training of the police in order to be professional and non-partisan in the interests of national cohesion and the protection of all citizens,” said Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi.

“Resultantly, training and supervision of police officers shall be ongoing in order to ensure that strategies to rebrand and transform the organisation dovetails with Government’s national trajectory and above all people’s expectations and needs.”

The Motlanthe Commission also recommended that police should aim to prevent corporal failings in the future.

Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi said police officers should strive to gain the public’s trust. He said officers should be cognisant that in whatever they do they are under public scrutiny while executing their duties.

“Remember that this is a critical moment for all of you because the eyes and ears of the nation are upon your next step as you seek to discharge your duties. You must therefore embed yourselves in the people, engage them, understand their daily challenges and social ills. The old villager in Zezani must have peace of mind knowing that his cattle in the kraal are safe from rustlers,” Dep Comm-Gen Ngirandi said.

“In the same breadth the middle-aged vendor in Chinotimba must also have confidence that her teenage girl can safely walk from school without fear that she might be raped or kidnapped. Find out how people want to be policed.”