Whinsley Masara
Chronicle Correspondent
MEMBERS of the public are the best police officers, a senior police officer has said while launching the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Clients Service Charter in Lupane.
Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, the Officer Commanding Lupane District, said police work would be impossible without the cooperation of the public.
“I’m so grateful for the cooperation by people in these communities and the business persons,” Chief Supt Govo said on Thursday.
He said his district was a vast one, comprising six police stations — Sipepa, Tsholotsho, Nyamandlovu, Jotsholo, Lupane and Insuza.
“Locals are so dedicated and are helping us quite a lot in making arrests and making our job a lot easier,” he said.
“They participate through our partnering forums such as the Crime Consultative Committee (CCC), the Business Anti-Stock Theft Forum and the Business Anti-Crime Forum of Zimbabwe (BACFOZ) to fight crime.”
Chief Supt Govo called for greater cooperation from the public as the ZRP strives for a crime-free society.
“The Charter seeks to empower you with the necessary knowledge on how to deal with the police and what to expect from them, including your rights and obligations as citizens of Zimbabwe,” he explained.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, the National Anti-Stock Theft Coordinator, urged the public to take note of the new branding system for cattle to help reduce stock theft cases.
“Ear cutting is no longer allowed by the law. We now recommended that either you brand or put ear tags on your livestock. Under the new branding system, the brand mark must include the owner’s details which are their name and national identity number. We’re also proposing to the government that they pass a law that by the end of December 2017, one will not be able to slaughter or sell an unbranded beast,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Makodza said the measures were in accordance with the resolutions made at the 8th Session of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security which was held in Plumtree. All cattle along the borders should be branded.