Govt working to give municipal police arresting powers
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has revealed that the government is currently working on giving municipal police arresting powers.
Municipal police in Zimbabwe have been having a torrid time in trying to put order in cities and towns due to lack of arresting powers. In most cases they end up teaming with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
This has seen them failing to effectively deal with the issue of vendors and traffic situation especially in Harare.
However, that is going to be a thing of the past soon, as Minister Ziyambi highlighted that he is working with the Ministry of Local Government to given police arresting powers.
Ziyambi was responding to a question from Nketa Constituency legislator Honourable Phelela Masuku who wanted to know the government policy with regards to municipal police augment the short staffed ZRP.
The Minister indicated that it was work in progress. He also indicated that there is also likely to be municipal courts as well.
‘’I want to thank the Honourable Member for such a good question. It is a very important question. The Minister of Local Government and Public Works is working towards ensuring that we realise that. We have realised that there are certain crimes that occur within the municipal area, like vending crimes and some of the traffic crimes. The municipal court should surely be dealing with that.
‘’So, we are working at ensuring that we get to that. It is work in progress between my Ministry and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works,’’ he said.
It however remains to be seen if the move will come pass, as there is a likelihood that there might be a need to avail budgetary support to properly train the municipal police and regularize their training to match of the ZRP.
Govt working to give municipal police arresting powers
